Forestmen detained four accused from MP on Saturday for poaching a leopard cub in Envihira village in Kondhali Forest Range within 24 hours with the clue getting on mobile of one of the accused.
It is reported that forestmen found carcass of a leopard cub trapped in snares and started investigation. They learnt that four labourers from Mandla district of MP had come to the field of Chhaya Shridhar Hawale for collecting mangoes from the trees in a row. The field is surrounded by jungle and hence the labourers took benefit and laid snares for poaching a herbivore. Unfortunately, the cub got trapped and died.
During interrogation, the accused – Sundar Kanhaiya Walke, Nainsingh Jodha Walke, Rajesh Bahgurilal Markar and Birsingh Halku Dhurve, all residents of Bhimpuri in Mandal district – first gave evasive replies. After forestmen started handling in their style and asked Rajesh to give his phone, they saw pictures of wild boar and flesh. Later, they confessed the crime of poaching the cub and wild boar.
Foresters registered an offence under sections 9, 39, 49, 50, 51 and 51 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and procured them before JMFC at Katol. The court granted Forest Custody Remand to them till May 18.
The action was taken by Prajoy Palwe, ACF, Nishikant Kapgate, RFO, Anil Nawghare, Mohan Waghdhare, F B Pathan, Aarti Meshram, Pandurang Shinde, Suraj Bele and Ajay Panchbhai under the guidance of Dr Bharat Singh Hada, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Nagpur.
