India: The Bagdogra police on Sunday arrested three persons following a tip-off in connection with the smuggling of a rare species of lizard.

The arrested included a wildlife smuggler and two customers and they were nabbed near a petrol pump in lower Bagdogra. The lizard, measuring 16 inches and weighing 200 grams, was also recovered from the trio.

Police sources said Narayan Oraon of Chalsa had smuggled the animal from the Dooars region to sell it to potential customers Chandrakumar Chhetri and Bal Krishna. The price of the lizard is pegged at more than Rs40 lakh in the grey market, they added.

The lizard has been handed over to the forest department. (EOIC)

(Source: Echo of India)