Mayurbhanj: In a significant crackdown, two persons were arrested on Tuesday for illegal hunting, and trade of Indian porcupine meat in the Similipal Tiger Reserve of Mayurbhanj district.
The accused persons have been identified as Chamtu Hembram (40) and Baidhar Soren (54), are from Alubani village, under the jurisdiction of Kuliana police, Mayurbhanj.
One of the accused, Baidhar Soren is reportedly working as the headmaster (in charge) of Haldibani UP School under Samakhunta Tahasil limits.
The accused were forwarded to the court for jail custody for violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, by illegally hunting an Indian porcupine, a Schedule-1 animal.
While addressing the media, Dr Samrat Gouda, Deputy Director, Similipal (South), said, “On July 16, after receiving information about two men hunting an Indian porcupine, a Schedule-1 animal, we immediately formed a rapid action team and nabbed the miscreants. We have seized a gun, bow and arrows, with porcupine meat, from their possession. After a thorough interrogation, we have court-forwarded them.”
The officials have recovered one handmade gun, one bow, three arrows, a paniki (cutting instrument), 1.15 kgs of porcupine meat and 88 nos (50 grams) of Indian Porcupine quills from them.
