BENGALURU: With investigations on in the Sambar poaching case, the state forest department has taken all the accused in its custody for further interrogation. They are being quizzed for more details about the operations of the biggest poaching network unearthed in Karnataka in recent times.
All the 11 accused in the sambar poaching case have been remanded to forest department custody for three days till January 10th.
Amid alleged political pressure and attempts to derail the investigations, the forest team led by inquiry officer and assistant conservator of forests (ACF) SharanuBassappa started interrogating the 11 accused and also the two others arrested on Thursday night.
More arrests are likely, say department sources, adding, “A high-level investigation is needed to check and verify the links of main accused Rafiq Ahmad. He has been involved in poaching cases in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Bandipur National Park and also some other states of the country.”
Investigations have revealed that the Sambar poachers were professionals. In fact, Rafiq Ahmad and his team of 11 were professional hunters and they had been involved in illegal hunting expeditions in many districts of Karnataka and other states.
Forest sources told Express, “Rafiq had purchased sophisticated weaponry and guns from outside. Only 18-year-old Jain College PU student Mir Najeeb Ali possessed a gun after becoming a hunter. Local villagers have been helping Rafiq and other poachers in their crime.”
Chikkamagaluru court denies bail to all 13 arrested
Mushtak Ahmad (Scorpio owner) and Ansar have been remanded to judicial custody by the Tarikere JMFC court.
They were arrested by Chikkamagaluru Police on Thursday night when tried to flee in the vehicle that was used by the main accused, Rafiq Ahmed to escape after killing the two sambars. Neither the 11 accused, nor Mushtak and Ansar got bail from the Chikkamagaluru court.
