Pangolin poached in Pench; two arrested
20 May 2020 08:25:48
Special Correspondent :
A team of forestmen arrested two persons for poaching a pangolin, falling in Schedule I category of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and cooking its flesh in Kirangisarra in Chorbahuli Forest Range of Pench Tiger Reserve on Monday. Forest Department has strengthened patrolling near villages in view of coronavirus pandemic that resulted in getting a tip-off to forestmen from East Pench that the pangolin was killed in Kirangisarra, north compartment no: 554.
Acting swiftly, forestmen started investigation and found that flesh of the wild animal was being cooked in utensil outside the house of Raju Ramji Dhurve in the agriculture field near Kirangisarra village. They detained two accused - Radheshyam Odagu Aahake and Kawdu Udaram Dhurve - and interrogated them on Tuesday.
An offence has been registered against them under relevant sections of Indian Forest Act, 1927, and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Pradeep Sankpal, Range Forest Officer, Pratik Modwan and Mengesh Tate are conducting further investigation under the guidance of Amlendu Pathak, Deputy Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, and Atul Deokar, Assistant Conservator of Forest, Pench.