CHANDIGARH: Organized poaching of wild boars and sambar deer in the protected forests of Bareke - lying beyond the electrified fence and before the zero line on the international border in Ferozepur sector - has been detected following raids and seizure of trapping nets, tractor and motorbikes by the forest and wildlife preservation department. What is disquieting is the evidence of some elements in Border Security Force's 143 Battalion conniving with poachers, who hail from the border village of Kala Raiyan.
"Secret information was received regarding boar and deer poaching around 1 pm on February 23. Local persons at the spot showed a blue tractor with trolley. More than 10 people with boar carcass had fled before our staff reached the tractor. The tractor owner, Mahinder Singh, was from Kala Raiyan. When questioned, Mahinder Singh, accepted that 35 people went by tractor to drive away boars. However, we found a poaching net in the tractor trolley. After a raid in their houses, we found many nets and poaching tools. They admitted they had fled after information reached them through BSF personnel that forest department officers were coming. We came to know from local people that two boars were hunted around 12 pm and regular poaching has taken place in the past by the Kala Raiyan community with the help of BSF personnel. This is an organized poaching activity because without permission of the BSF nobody can enter beyond the fence," said DFO (Ferozepur), M Sudhagar, in a written statement.
When contacted by TOI, BSF DIG Abohar-Ferozepur range, A K Sharma, said, "I will inquire into these charges and ascertain the facts as this is a matter of national interest." Sudhagar stated he would be writing officially to the BSF DIG "to take action against erring staff and other persons involved."
Sudhagar said the method of poaching was to chase the animals and then trap them with long rope nets. "The meat was shared with the conniving BSF personnel. It was done on Sundays when BSF officers are away and forest department is also less active," Sudhagar told TOI.
