3 arrested for hunting monitor lizard in Melghat
| Date :19-Jun-2020 |
Team of forestment with arrested accused persons.
Special Correspondent :
A team of forestmen arrested three persons for hunting and illegally possessing a monitor lizard at Adgaon-Khurd village in Akot Wildlife Division, a part of Melghat Tiger Reserve, seized the animal and materials used for the purpose on Wednesday. The definition of hunding in Section 2 (16) of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 says that hunting includes capturing, killing, poisoning, snaring or trapping any wild animal and even attempt to do so and driving any animal for any of the purpose specified in sub-clause. Monitor lizard falls in Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
On a tip-off, the flying squad of Forest Department from Hiwarkhed, led by P D Patil, Range Forest Officer, laid a trap at the ashramshala of Dr Jagannath Dhone, Adgaon in Akot tehsil, and detained Rajesh Subhash Bhosale (28), Arjun Kashya Bhosale (33), both residents of Amboda, and Vikas Subhash Bhosale (33), a resident of Chittalwadi. Forestmen searched a bag belonging to Vikas and found a monitor lizard with its tail tied in a hole created by them at the neck. Further interrogation revealed that they captured the lizard from an agricultural field in Akot. The accused were taking the animal for selling it in the market.
A preliminary offence report has been registered in the case, informed Laxman Aware, Assistant Conservator of Forest, Akot. B D Kataria, Invetigation Officer, is making further enquiries in the case under the guidance of M R Reddy, Addl Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Field Director, Melghat Tiger Reserve, and T Beula madam, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Akot. Aatif Hussain and N B Ambhore took active part in the raid.
MCR for 6 accused in sloth-bear cubs’ poaching in Melghat The Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sangrampur, rejected bail plea by six accused in poaching of two cubs of sloth bear in Sonala Forst Range, Akot Wildlife Division, a portion of Melghat Tiger Reserve, and granted MCR. Three of the accused are taken into custody in bamboo felling case occurred previously.
The court had granted them Forest Custody Remand till June 18 and hence forestmen produced them before the court on Thursday. The names of the accused are: Dalubabu Jambhulkar (60), Krishna Motilal Gavate (26), both residents of Chichari villages in Buldana district. Munna Chandu Chicholkar (45), Habu Sonya Pawar (46), Raju Shaligram Kasot (31) and Ankesh Chhagan Pawar (21), all residents from Nimkhedi village.
It is reported that the sensational case occurred when these six accused had gone along with their two other companions in South Aalewadi, compartment no: 357, Sonala Forest Range, on Monday for felling bamboo. However, on way, they found two cubs of sloth bear approaching towards them while their mother was following. Frightened villagers started attacking the cubs with axe and killed them on the spot. The furious mother took revenge immediately by attacking and killing two persons – Ashok Motilal Gavate and Mana Bandu Gavate. The remaining six persons ran towards the village then and informed people about the incident.