Mizo cops gun down 19 imported pigs

AIZAWL: Following Mizoram government's ban on import of birds and other animals from neighbouring countries due to the avian flu scare, the state police gunned down 19 pigs imported from Myanmar at Champai town on Mizoram-Myanmar border.

All the districts bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh had issued prohibitory orders on import of chicken and pigs as the dreaded bird flu was reported to have infected animals in both the neighbouring countries.

Reports reaching here said while all the smuggled chicken and domesticated animals were deported to Myanmar, the pigs were declared as 'unclaimed' and gunned down on Saturday on the orders of the sub-divisional magistrate of Champhai district.

The 19 pigs, gunned down at Keifang hill were buried in one place and guarded by police for three days for fear of exhumation and sale, the reports said.

State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department said that no sign of avian flu infection had been reported in the state till date.