Jhunjhunu: The forest department seized 18 monitor lizards from a bus on the Ajitgarh–Makrana route near Shrimadhopur in Sikar district and arrested three people in connection with wildlife smuggling, while one juvenile was detained Wednesday.Assistant Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Devendra Singh Rathore said the lizards were packed in two sacks. Officials also recovered a sack of shatavari (Indian/wild asparagus), a medicinal plant, from the accused during the operation.The arrested accused were identified as Nemaram of Chitawa in Nagaur district, Laluram of Revadri, and Ramchandra Bawari of Nagwada. The action followed a blockade set up in front of the Shrimadhopur forest range office, where the bus was stopped and searched.Forest department officials said efforts were underway to trace the source of the wildlife and its intended destination, and to determine whether a larger smuggling network was involved.
