RAIPUR: Illegal trade of bush meat, also known as wild meat has come to light in Chhattisgarh with shocking images of hundreds of slaughtered monkeys at Devvadvi region near Ambagarh Chowki in Rajanandgaon district located about 80km from state capital.

While forest department is yet to trace offenders, state wildlife activists accused them of gross negligence and corruption. They alleged that forest department was assisting poachers in cross-border exporting of wild meat, skin and brain.

Nearly 2km from forest check-post on the banks of Shivnath river, locals noticed groups of people who had taken refuge in forest of Devvadvi for last few days and killed at least 40 monkeys everyday.

Talking to TOI, Anish Goswami, a resident said, "The groups belonged to Bandesar region in Bastar and were seen for last few days. When I visited with team of other locals, there was a huge carpet-like view of monkeys' body pieces drying under sun. They had killed monkeys in thousands, cut them into pieces, dried and packed the meat after boiling and processing."

Nearby villagers also complained of meat being transported in a van on Wednesday after which, a complaint was made to forest officials, Goswami said adding that due to abundance of monkeys in this region, poachers have been visiting the place for the last five years in summers.

Narrating the conversation he had with the offenders, he said, "They store it for their own consumption and also sell it to locals of Pankhajur area. But as soon as locals informed forest officials, the group disappeared the next day. Fearing serious allegations, officials chased them away."

However, officials in forest department seemed oblivious to the incident. Refuting claims, divisional forest officer Arun Prasad said, "Teams of officials were sent to various sites but nothing was traced except few pieces of monkey's tail and skin. The sample will be sent for verification and a preliminary report has been registered."

Principal chief conservator of forest wildlife, Ramprakash said, "It's hard to believe the pictures as something of this extent is impossible in a religious place like Chhattisgarh. I have never heard of Indians consuming monkey meat or exporting it. However, a committee has been formed. These claims would be authenticated only after investigation."

Chief minister Raman Singh has strongly condemned the criminal act of rampant monkey killings. He instructed officials of forest and police department to investigate the matter on war footing and arrest the offenders as soon as possible.

Activists condemn killings

Reacting strongly over the matter, septuagenarian AMK Bharos, president of Chhatitsgarh wildlife society and activist said, "It's a clear case of negligence by forest department. Bush meat trade of jackal, mongoose, foxes is illegally active in many parts of country and few years ago poachers and nomadic tribe from Andhra Pradesh used to visit south Bastar to kill snakes. On the same lines now, poaching of monkey has started. They pack the processed meat and brain to export to Africa, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and other countries through agencies."

Bharos said that they can't be people from Bastar but other tribe coming through Bastar route targeting common grey langur that is commonly found in Central India and are protected under schedule 2 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 updated to 1991.