21 poachers using traditional traps to hunt wild animals held during forest dept raid in Junnar’s Rajur range

Pune: The Junnar forest division on Tuesday arrested 21 individuals during a raid in the Rajur forest range for attempting to poach wild animals using traditional traps.The operation was conducted on May 13 around 1pm and lasted three to four hours, following confidential intelligence received by the department regarding illegal poaching activities in Hadsar.Acting on the tip-off, forest guard Eknath Dhondu Bangar, and two other guards reached the spot and confirmed the setup of multiple traditional traps, which were 20 feet long and 6 feet in height each.Forest range officer Pradeep Chavan was alerted, and additional teams were deployed. The poachers, hailing from Surale, Hadsar, Tejur, and Manganewadi villages, were caught red-handed. The officers seized 21 traps and 10 two-wheelers used to transport them.All 21 individuals were taken into custody and questioned, after which 17 of them confessed to the crime and were released on bail."They stated that they usually capture sambar deer, barking deer or wild boars for eating on a regular basis. This has been a practice they have been following for long," said Chavan.Meanwhile, four key accused, Nilesh Kedari, Ramesh Kedari, and Pradeep Kedari from Surale, as well as Kisan Bhale from Hadsar, were found to be misleading investigators; they were remanded in two days of custody by the court of Honorary First Class Judicial Magistrate on Wednesday.Chavan told TOI, "Acts of driving wild animals away from their habitat, setting up a noose/sling for hunting them or hunting them etc. are violations of Section 9 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.He added, "For such violations, a maximum imprisonment of seven years and a fine of up to Rs25,000 has been provided for an offender. The said offence is non-bailable and cognizable and we have registered an offence against them for the same. Strict action will be taken against those who hunt wild animals."