Another tiger skin trader Kalla nabbed from Uttarakhand

The Times of India , Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Correspondent : Vijay Pinjarkar
NAGPUR: In a major breakthrough, another tiger skin and body parts trader Vakil alias Kalla Hawasingh was trapped in Najibabad on Monday in a joint action by Uttarakhand forest department and Uttar Pradesh Police.

Kalla (40) was wanted in trafficking of tiger skins from Ranala (Kamptee) and Bhandarbodi (Ramtek). Tiger skin traders Kalla and Dalbir's names figure in another arrested trader Sarju Bagdi's statement to forest department.

Sarju, who confessed to have procured 5 tiger skins from Amdi Fata in June, had told TOI that he was not the only one to traffic tiger skins from the region. Six months ago Kalla and Dalbir too had procured tiger skins.

Based on his statement, the forest department registered a preliminary offence report (POR) in Ranala from where Kalla is stated to have procured one skin. However, the department is reluctant to file a POR in Bhandarbodi for reasons best known to it.

Talking to TOI about Kalla's arrest, Kumaon chief conservator of forest (CCF) Paramjit Singh said, "We had received a tip-off from Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), Uttarakhand Chapter, about 4-5 poachers being in Khatima forest area. We were on their trail from October 30." The spot is on the Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand border and also close to Nepal.

Singh said his team was joined by deputy conservator (DyCF) of East Terai Parag Dhakate, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) Prakash Arya, WPSI's Rajendra Agrawal, Dr Abhishek of a local NGO Effect and others.

The team could not trace the poachers in Khatima. They were told that poachers were striking a deal for tiger skin with Kalla and were travelling in Haldwani-Najibabad bus. "Our team chased the bus and caught them," said Singh.

The accused have confessed to have killed a tigress a few days ago. They also took the forest team to the spot in Khatima from where tiger flesh and trap were seized. They will again be taken to the spot to gather more information.

Two arrested poachers belong to the Bawaria community while two are Saperas (snake charmers). The crime spot is in Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh. Singh said forest custody of the accused would be sought. If Maharashtra forest department wants Kalla, he could be taken there on transit custody," said Singh.

With Kalla's arrest, 23 poachers including four traders have been held so far since June 6. Though the forest department never went beyond poaching of five tigers, officially the toll seems to have touched nine if recorded statements and offences are considered.

Sarju has already told TOI that in the last 8-9 months around 20 skins were procured by various traders from poachers operating in the region.

 
SOURCE : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-11-05/nagpur/43693357_1_sarju-bagdi-tiger-skin-amdi-fata
 


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