The personnel of 37 Battalion of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) during an operation along the Indo-Bhutan border inside Assam rescued a Tokay gecko.

The SSB jawans of the battalion, headquartered at Mangaldai in Darrang district, were able to rescue the endangered species of lizard, Tokay gecko, during a naka checking at Tenkibasti.

This has been stated in a press communique received on Friday.

According to sources, the price of each such living Tokay gecko fetches several lakhs in the Indian smuggling markets.

Tokay gecko becomes expensive and high in demand after a section of people spread unautheticated information that it is used in medicines to cure people from HIV and AIDS, sources added.

Earlier, in September this year, two Tokay geckos were rescued by SSB troops from Bogamati area under Nagrijuli police outpost in Assam’s Baksa district along the Indo-Bhutan border.

Acting on secret information, a team of SSB troops, led by Milan Chandra Shill, had launched an operation along the Indo-Bhutan border and rescued the geckos.

Mayukh Goswami is Northeast Now Correspondent in Mangaldai. He can be reached at: [email protected]