India, May 18 -- The Manipur Police on Saturday arrested a 24-year-old man while smuggling 72,000 peacock feather shafts to Myanmar.

The accused has been identified as Md. Sharifuddin, a resident of Moreh Ward No. 5, Muslim Nagar Laibuk Leikai, in Tengnoupal district, which borders Myanmar.

Acting on intelligence inputs, police intercepted him near the Pallel police station gate in Kakching district. During the search, police recovered four plastic sacks containing 72,000 peacock feather shafts, weighing around 142 kilograms.

"The estimated international market value of the seized feather shafts is around Rs.37 lakh," said a police official.

A four-wheeler vehicle used for transportation was also seized.

In separate counter-insurgenc...