Pilibhit: Five people have been arrested in connection with the poaching of a sub-adult wild boar in the Barahi forest range, with two of the accused injured in a police encounter, officials said on Saturday.
Police said two accused were arrested after an encounter with a Madhotanda police team, during which they sustained bullet injuries below the knees. Three others were held while trying to escape through the forest.
The poaching incident took place around 11pm on April 15. The accused fled, leaving behind the carcass and their motorcycle when a forest team cordoned off the area. They allegedly opened fire on the team before escaping.
Based on a complaint by the forest department, police registered an FIR on April 17 against Harjinder Singh (28) and Baljeet Singh (20), along with unidentified persons. All are residents of Raghavpuri village near the Indo-Nepal border.
The injured accused were identified as Amarjeet Singh (32) and Harpal Singh alias Jaspal (24). The other arrested accused include Mukhtiyar Singh (30), Baljeet Singh (20) and Satnam Singh (72). Harjinder Singh, who was earlier injured in an encounter on April 21, has also been arrested.
Superintendent of police Sukirti Madhav said a firearm used in the poaching was recovered, along with a country-made .315 bore pistol, a cartridge shell and two live cartridges. “The accused opened fire on the team and were injured in retaliatory firing. A fresh FIR has been registered in connection with the encounter,” he said.
District president of the Samajwadi Party, Jagdev Singh Jagga, questioned the police version, referring to recent Allahabad high court remarks on encounter practices. He also raised doubts over how the accused were found in the same forest area despite the earlier incident.
Jagga alleged that the encounters were based on “manipulated facts” and said he would raise the matter with party leadership.
Get real-time updates and result insights on the
UBSE UK Board Results 2026 and
CBSE 12th Result 2026 Keshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 201...
Read MoreKeshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 2014, currently posted in Pilibhit. He specializes in reporting on forest and wildlife, environment, water resources, agriculture, and the sugar and ethanol industries. He also covers a broad range of other topics, including health and medicine, education, development, and crime.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment