Amravati court suspends sentence of poacher Bhajan

Nagpur: When state legislature is showing seriousness and will discuss issues related to tiger poaching and absconding poacher Kuttu through legislative assembly questions (LAQs) in the ongoing session, Amravati principal district judge has suspended punishment of Bhajan Hotel Dhurve, who was serving five years imprisonment. Bhajan was convicted by Amravati additional chief judicial magistrate SB Mane on January 29, 2016, for poaching a tiger in Dhakna in Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) in 2013. He filed an application last month for suspension of his sentence. The matter came up for hearing on Tuesday before Amravati principal district judge PK Chavan, who suspended the sentence. Aggrieved by the ruling, forest department has decided to challenge it in Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court. Bhajan is an expert in killing big cats and used to operate in forests of Vidarbha. He had conspired to kill a tiger with other poachers inside MTR and is also wanted in poaching of leopard in Ghatang in Melghat. Bhajan and his accomplice Shiri were caught by Melghat cyber cell officials dramatically after a hot chase. “If we did not have strong evidence and grounds against Bhajan, why would have court sentenced him for five years. There is provision for punishment for three years too,” asked forest officials. Bhajan is presently lodged in Amravati Central Jail. Justice SB Shukre at the high court had earlier rejected bail applications of notorious tiger traders Suraj Pal alias Chacha and Naresh Lala terming tiger poaching a serious crime. Bhajan played a key role as mediator and helped notorious tiger skin trader Ranjit Bhatia to poach tigers in MTR. “Releasing of poachers like Bhajan will sound death knell for tigers as these poachers have no job other than killing tigers. They also know the channel to traffic the skins and

bones

to Nepal and China,” said a wildlife expert. Once released these poachers never turn up to attend cases and again get into poaching tigers. Poacher Kuttu escaped from police custody near Sakoli. Earlier, woman poacher Minar jumped off the train to escape but was caught after suffering injury. Since 2009, tiger poacher Keru wanted in tiger skin seizure by CBI has never turned up. Ranjit too had jumped bail and was again found involve in poaching. At least 30-35 Baheliya poachers have been arrested with great efforts by the forest officials. Release of Bhajan will open Pandora’s Box.