THE patrolling team of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) succeeded in apprehending two poachers and seized poaching equipment from them in Mohgaon village under Rukhad Range on Sunday night. The arrested have been identified as Kailash Pancham Chakrawarty (41); Sunil Phool Singh Uike (35), and Dashrath Yadav (32), son of Shree Yadav, all residents of Mohgaon village. According to Pench Tiger Reserve, during night patrolling in Mohgaon village under Rukhad Range, forest guards apprehended three men involved in illegal hunting. While conducting a search operation, the forest team found teak trees on privately owned land, with no other crop cultivated on the plot. Investigation revealed that the accused had illegally drawn a wire from an 11 KV electricity line and passed electric current through it to hunt wild animals. Nearby, the carcass of a male gaur (Indian bison), approximately 13 to 14- year-old, was found. Considering the seriousness of the situation, Electricity Department was immediately contacted to stop the power supply.

 

As the electricity could not be disconnected instantly, the forest staff, assessing the on-site risk, carefully removed the live electric wire that caused the gaur’s death. To nab the culprits, forest officials formed teams and cordoned off the area. After some time, the accused were seen entering through a hole in the boundary fencing and were surrounded and arrested by the forest staff. The accused confessed to the crime on the spot and also got seized a plastic sack, which they had used to carry wooden stakes and electric wires. From the spot, illegal electric wires and connection materials were seized. With the help of the dog squad, additional suspicious items were recovered from the accused’s house, further confirming their involvement in the crime. As per prescribed guidelines, the post-mortem of the deceased gaur was conducted, followed by cremation. A case has been registered against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act and detailed investigation is ongoing.