India, April 13 -- Three men were arrested in Assam's Dibrugarh district on Thursday for allegedly smuggling 11 endangered Tokay Gecko lizards, officials said. The Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF) rescued the Schedule-I protected species during the operation.

The lizards were likely being sold for Rs.60 lakh each or even at higher prices in the international markets. "The price goes higher in some countries and as per reports, these lizards are used for some weird medicinal purposes," a senior Assam Police officer said.

The three suspected smugglers were spotted in a Dhaba in Mohanbari Tiniali of Dibrugarh. "Two of them came in the car while the third person came in a motorcycle. It is suspected that they were making some deal th...