Inter-state gang may be active in Sabarkantha

by :TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Ahmedabad: State forest department officials investigating the two recent cases where leopard skin and claws were found think that the poaching happened in Rajasthan and later the body parts of the animal were brought here for trading.

Senior foresters said the main accused Babu Modia was a resident of the district and had relatives in Rajasthan. They said there was a possibility that the accused might be dealing with traders from Rajasthan.

A senior officer refusing to be quoted said that poaching was rampant in Rajasthan, due to involvement of local tribes. “In Gujarat local people might be involved in trade but their involvement in killing was a remote possibility,” he said. The forest officials said that there was a possibility of poaching in the area, but now the officials have employed informers in the village as a result of which this trade was getting exposed.

He said that it was proper vigil and feedback from the informers that was helping the officials. However, officials said that after the poaching incident of the lions in 2007, the government has asked the officials to keep a vigil and has even roped in the intelligence bureau officials.

Chief conservator of forest (crime) DK Sharma said the spurt in such recovery is only because of the proper vigil by the forest department. “The main accused, Modia, has relatives in Rajasthan and hence he was moving between Sabarkantha and Rajasthan.” Sharma said that the possibility of interstate gang could not be ruled out.

He said that the forest officials were also investigating on this lines and once Modia is arrested, the picture will be clearer.

15 peacocks found dead in state

Palanpur/Junagadh: Fifteen peacocks died on Thursday in two separate incidents reported from villages of Junagadh and Sabarkantha districts.

Six peacocks including three peahens were found dead on Ubharan Raod in Malpur taluka of Sabarkantha district. According to range forest officer (RFO) DP Asari, it appeared to be a case of food poisoning. The birds were found lying in the vicinity of a cultivated land next to a temple there. “We are awaiting the FSL reports to confirm the cause of death,” he said.

On the outskirts of Juni Chavand village in Visavadar taluka of Junagadh district, nine peacocks were found dead. “The carcasses appeared to have been lying there for over two days as about seven of them were eaten away by wild animals,” said L M Kandoria, the regional forest officer. “Prima facie, the birds appeared to have been killed by pesticide poisoning from eating seeds or crops in fields nearby. At present there is no reason to suspect any other cause of death. PM reports will throw more light,” Kandoria said. TNN & SANDESH

Dead leopard’s nails recovered in Sabarkantha

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Palanpur/Ahmedabad: In yet another catch, the forest department has recovered 18 nails of a young leopard which had died of starvation 12 days ago near Aud village in Sabarkantha district. This is the second major catch after a leopard skin was recovered.

Three unidentified person who managed to give forest cops the slip, were performing tantrik rituals with the nails, foresters said.

Chief Conservator Crime Forest (CCCF) Gandhinagar, DK Sharma, said, “Based on a tip-off forest officials raided the crematorium situated on the outskirts of the village. Three accused had just begun what appeared to be a tantrik (black magic) ritual. But, at the sight of the government vehicle, they fled leaving the nails behind.”

The leopard carcass had been found in a decomposed condition from the forest area of the village on March 27. Postmortem revealed that the animal had starved to death. Someone had taken out its nails after the animal died.

Sharma said the officials had earlier received a tip-off that the local villagers had the nails. A close watch was kept on the movement of suspects. He said on Thursday they got the tip-off that the villagers were performing some ritual.

Sharma said since these suspects came from the nearby villages where this ritual was being performed, they have been identified and will be soon arrested.

Officials from the department said these nails were probably being used to keep away the evil spirits. According to Sharma, Darbars believe that that wearing the nails of an animal with power would make the heart of the child strong and would give them the power. Also, one had to perform the ritual before getting it framed in metal, gold and silver.

Leopard skin traders sent in judicial custody

All four accused of trading carcass of wild animals in Vijaynagar, who had been granted six-day remand on April 2 by judicial magistrate, were sent in judicial custody after their remand period got over on Tuesday.

According to assistant conservator of forests, Sabarkantha, RM Desai, “The leopard was believed to have been first trapped and later killed by hitting heavy rods on to its head. “We have also recovered mobile phones and equipment which were probably used for poaching the animal,” Desai said. These have been sent to Gandhinagar Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for investigation. “A leopard has 18 nails and can be sold to the extend of Rs 50,000 per claw,” he added.