Minister’s aide among 4 held for ‘killing’ deer

The Hindu , Monday, March 09, 2009
Correspondent : PTI
Nagpur: Four persons, including a close associate of Maharashtra Forest Minister Babanrao Pachpute, were arrested here for allegedly killing a spotted deer and carrying its meat, police said on Sunday.

Aslam Khan, Mr. Pachpute’s liaison with the media, considered a kingpin in the killing of spotted deer in a reserve forest area, was caught with 40 kg of meat on Saturday night.

The police said Khan along with Mohammad Nawabuddin, Mohammad Afzal and Shoaib Ali had allegedly killed the deer at night in Ramtek area and were returning on their two wheelers when forest officials intercepted them and found meat stuffed in the vehicles.

Two persons flee

The forest officials, including Round Officer Nilesh Gawnade assisted by forest guards D.V. Bhare, E.G. Bhoyar, R.G. Bhagalkar, D.A. Raut and A.Y. Raut, found four animal legs, a head and sharp weapons used and four knives in the vehicles, they said. Two other unidentified offenders fled the scene, the officials said.

The four have been charged under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act 1927 and sent to forest custody till March 9. The accused face a maximum punishment of up to three years imprisonment and fine.

Minister denies links

Mr. Pachpute on Sunday denied having links with Khan. “I don’t have any connection with this man. All allegations of my association with him, including that he is my PRO, are baseless,” Mr. Pachpute told PTI over phone from Shrigonda in Ahmednagar district.

“I have asked the forest authorities to take stringent action against those involved in the poaching case,” he said.

 
SOURCE : Monday, March 09, 2009
 


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