By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 25 Jan: Despite tall claims by the Forest Department regarding curbing wildlife poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products and strengthening conservation efforts in Uttarakhand, incidents involving the smuggling of wildlife parts continue to surface on a regular basis. In a latest incident reported from the Srinagar area of Pauri district, police have arrested four persons who had arrived in the town to sell a leopard skin. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the accused persons under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Police officials say that they received specific intelligence inputs about certain persons reaching Srinagar with the intention of smuggling a leopard skin and staying at a local hotel. Acting promptly on the information, police teams carried out searches at various hotels in the town, during which the suspects were apprehended with the banned items. A joint team of Srinagar Police and the Special Intelligence Unit conducted the operation and arrested four accused, identified as Safari Lal, Surjan Lal, Roshan Lal and Basantu Lal, from a hotel room. A leopard skin was recovered from their possession.
It may be reiterated here that leopard is a protected wildlife species and illegal possession or smuggling of its skin constitutes a serious offence in the country. A case has been registered against the accused at Srinagar Kotwali under relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act. During preliminary interrogation, Safari Lal disclosed that he and Basantu Lal are related as uncle and nephew and had hunted the leopard in the forest near their village a few months ago. He further revealed that Roshan Lal and Surjan Lal were already known to them and had expressed interest in purchasing the leopard skin for several lakhs of rupees, following which the skin was brought by them to Srinagar to finalise the deal.
The Police stated that the accused are being produced before the court for necessary legal action. A detailed investigation into the case is underway, and authorities have claimed that strict action will continue to be taken against those involved in wildlife crimes. In-charge Inspector of Srinagar Kotwali Kuldeep Singh confirmed that the four accused were arrested on the basis of confidential information and added that all of them are being presented before the court to complete the required judicial formalities.
