Probe begins in chinkara poaching, pressure on to arrest jawans

JAISALMER: Investigation into the poaching of chinkaras by Army jawans began in Barmer on Saturday, a day after the endangered animals were killed.
The forest officials destroyed the remains of the three chinkaras, even as pressure mounted on officials to arrest the accused.
Members of the Bishnoi Yuva Parishad on Saturday staged a demonstration against the poaching and submitted a memorandum to district collector demanding immediate action.
"Possibly this was the first case in which immediate action has been taken against poachers following a raid at an army camp. It was during the raid that the remains were seized," said district forest officer (DFO) B R Bhadu.
Five soldiers - Subedar Gopilal, Havildar B R Nath, Naik N Sarkar, Lance Naik Y R Pardesi and jawan D R Naidu - have been booked under Section 9 and 51 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Punishment for offences under these sections is maximum seven year jail term. The accused have reportedly told the officials they had bought the meat from some villagers, which is being verified, said a forest official.
Late on Thursday late night or at the wee hours of Friday, jawans of 88 Armoured Workshop Unit, who have come to participate in the war exercise, reportedly poached three chinkaras and took them to their camp near Sajitada village. They were about to cook the meat when a flying squad of forest department got the information and raided the army camp and seized the head and cut pieces of chinkaras.
The post-mortem of remaining of chinkaras was conducted by the veterinary medical board. The forenscie science laboratory has collected samples of blood and flesh. After the completion of investigation, the accused are likely to be arrested.
Barmer unit president of Bishnoi Yuva Parishad Dinesh Vishnoi said that all environment lovers are quite disturbed by the poaching by army jawans. He said people have demonstrated demanding stringent action against the culprits. They wanted the district administration to take action against the soldiers without coming under pressure of anyone. He said if action is not taken against the culprits, then their community would intensify the agitation.
On the other hand, defence spokesperson Colonel S D Goswami said army has taken the matter seriously and would extend all possible help to the forest department in probing the case.