Rifle shooting assn chief released on one-year probation

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 31

The newly elected president of the Punjab Rifle Shooting Association, Gurbir Singh Sandhu, who was convicted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, was today released on probation for one year by the local court. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him. Sandhu was released on a surety bond of Rs 1 lakh.

Sandhu is a former international trap shooter and a 2001 Arjuna awardee.

On May 23, the court had held Sandhu guilty of possessing tusks of wild boar without a licence under Section 51 of Act.

Before releasing Sandhu on probation, the court had adjourned the quantum of sentence twice on May 26 and then on May 30. 

The case was registered against Sandhu in 2006 by the CBI after it raided his rented flat in Sector 39 and recovered wildlife articles of protected animals.

The CBI seizure included a pair of sambar horns and 33 wild boar tusks along with other incriminating material like four video cassettes, 151 photographs and 12 rolls of negatives (allegedly containing shooting adventures). Sandhu could not give a declaration of eight wild boar tusks.

Sandhu’s son Manavjit Singh, also a shooter, was booked in the case but the CBI had dropped his name from the chargesheet as no case was made out against him.

Following the case, the UT Wildlife Department had also conducted an inquiry in which it was concluded that it was a case of poaching as per the Wildlife Protection Act.

Punishment under Wildlife Act

Anyone found guilty under Section 51 of the WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972, is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to Rs 25,000 or with both.

About Sandhu 

Sandhu, a former international trap shooter and 2001 Arjuna awardee, was elected president of the Punjab Rifle Shooting Association soon after the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government came back to 

power in Punjab.