Nurpur, April 4
The Forest Department has nabbed two poachers carrying hunted wild birds and seized two guns from their possession. The department has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 each. The seized guns were supposed to be deposited in a local police station or with an arms dealer by the poachers in view of upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Nurpur Divisional Forest Officer Amit Sharma said he along with a forest guard was on a routine inspection duty of a forest area under Ganhi Lagor and Minjgrah forest block yesterday when they heard a gunshot.
“Two persons identified as Rajesh Kumar and Rajinder Kumar were seen coming with a bag and guns. Two dead wild birds — Red Jungle Fowl and Black Francolin — were recovered from them and the duo confessed to poaching of birds,” he said.
The DFO said the dead birds came under Schedule -2 of the Wildlife Protection Act and the cognisance of the offence had been taken under Wildlife Protection Act-1972.
A Rs 1 lakh total fine was imposed on the accused.
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