Kolhapur forest department arrests 11 poachers for wild boar meat distribution

Kolhapur: The Kolhapur forest department arrested 11 poachers from two villages in the district after they were caught cutting the meat of a wild boar and distributing it among themselves.Four of the accused are from Niwale village in Panhala tehsil, while seven are from Perid village in Shahuwadi tehsil. The forest department seized sickles, knives, mobile phones, other hunting equipment and four motorcycles from the accused.A case was registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, sections 2(1), 2(6), 2(16), 2(35), 2(36), 9, 39, 48(A), 50, and 51 against the accused in both cases.Range forest officer for Panhala Ajit Mali said, "While conducting a joint patrol along with staff of the Panhala and Karveer forest range, we received information that meat of a wild boar, a Schedule II Part A animal, was being sold. Accordingly, our teams immediately carried out a raid on a house in Navalewadi village and found four suspects cutting a wild boar and distributing its share among themselves. These poachers were immediately arrested, and a case was registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Further investigation is ongoing."In the action taken by the Panhala forest range, Sardar Sambhaji Patil, Ramesh Pandurang Patil, Vinayak Sambhaji Vaidya and Ratan Hindurao Navale were arrested.In the action by the Malkapur forest range, Sunil Maruti Vadam, Ashok Ishwar Patil, Shivaji Balu Vadam, Bajirao Bapu Jadhav, Sambhaji Bandu Yadav, Arjun Baburao Mahadik and Sachin Vasant Bhosale, all residents of Perid village, were arrested.Deputy conservator of forest Dhairyasheel Patil said, "Poaching is a serious crime. If anyone comes across any hunting, smuggling of wildlife, or forest fire incident, then they should immediately inform the nearest forest department office or dial the toll-free number 1926."