NAGPUR: In a new twist to poaching of tigers, two prime accused, who initially led to cracking of wider angle to the trafficking of tiger skins from the region, have moved a petition before the court of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) AY Borkar stating they were juvenile, ostensibly to get rid of punishment.

The two accused, Mamru and Chika, were dramatically arrested in a joint operation by crime branch police and forest officials from Mansar near Ramtek on June 6, 2013.

During interrogation, the two accused had confessed that 11 tiger skins were trafficked from Amdi Fata and Bhandarbodi near Ramtek by tiger skin trader Sarju Bagdi, who has been arrested and currently lodged in Nagpur Central Jail.

Even as initially forest department was adamant on poaching of only one tiger, the official toll now seems to be put at 18 looking into the number of offences registered. Poaching of Ghatang tiger in Melghat turned out to be four different tigers in a DNA report issued by Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.

Sarju too had told TOI that separate gangs of poachers trafficked more than 20 tiger skins from the region. Even as poaching trial is set to begin from May 15, till now forest officials have arrested around 25 Baheliya (hunting tribe) poachers while 31 are still absconding.

The application of Mamru and Chika was filed under Section 7A of the Juvenile Justice Act by their counsel PS Sontakke on April 23. The accused have said that they were 18 years when the offence was committed somewhere in May. Both have submitted a birth certificate issued by sub-registrar of Biruhali near Katni in Madhya Pradesh. Mamru's name has been mentioned as Mamra in the certificate.

The most interesting fact is that application date and date of issue of both the certificates is same. After the issue came up in the court, the forest department has decided to challenge the certificates. The matter had come up for hearing on May 5. The next date of hearing is May 15.

"Baheliya poachers are in a habit of procuring fake documents to get out on bail. Once released, they never turn up in the court," said forest officials. "We are also in touch with the CBI officials, who have taken over the poaching probe," they added.

I-cards for retired forest employees

In a policy decision, the forest department has decided to issue identity cards to retired forest employees. CR Chimote, president of Maharashtra Forest Pensioners Association, said a demand was put before PCCF SWH Naqvi on March 1. Retired forest employees were a harassed lot by various institutions in the absence of I-card. Naqvi has directed all the forest circles in the state to initiate the action to issue I-cards to retired employees and also those who are retiring in near future. The I-card will have to be returned to the department after the death of an employee.