The Tribune , Friday, June 10, 2005

Correspondent : Ruchika M. Khanna

Panchkula, June 9A day after Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana, levelled charges of irregularities on part of the Jhajjar police in investigating the Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi poaching case, the Forest Department has given a clean chit to the police. The former cricketer, along with seven others, have been accused of killing a female black buck, a Schedule I animal, and two hares near Kirlod village of Jhajjar on June 3. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr J.P.L. Srivastava, today said that the police was authorised to handle investigation for wildlife offences on its own. Citing a previous notification of the state government, he said all Station House Officers (SHO) of police stations of Haryana could independently handle investigations for offences conducted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. “This notification was issued by the Wildlife Preservation Department in 1993, and the SHO/ DSP Jhajjar, Mr Sumit Kuhar, acted as per the provisions of law,” he said. The PCCF said there were no irregularities on the part of the police investigating team. He said the skinned carcasses of the animals were recovered from a jeep by the police at a naka on the Jhajjar - Rewari road, on the night of June 3. “The police seized the dead animals and two firearms, about 50 rounds of cartridges, and searchlights. In the morning, they informed the local Wildlife Inspector, Attar Singh, who, in turn, informed his senior officials. The post-mortem examination was done under supervision of a three member committee of Wildlife Inspector, Tehsildar and a veterinary doctor,” he said, while adding that he has now issued directions to his staff to assist and coordinate the police investigations, rather than take a confrontationist view. This comes after the Chief Wildlife Warden accused the police of destroying vital clues, and sabotaging the case by not informing him of the poaching incident as soon as it came to light. In his report submitted to the PCCF, after visiting the scene of crime, the officer has alleged that the police handled the case wrongly. He has alleged that the police as well as the local forest and wildlife officials at Jhajjar did not bother to inform senior officials of the department when the case came to light. The report says that consultation with Chief Wildlife Warden was essential as per the provisions of law in the Wildlife (Protection) Act. “… vital clues and evidence have been destroyed because the police released the offenders and vehicles used by them, and that they would not be able to build a proper case in the court, if the investigations are not handled properly.” The Chief Wildlife Warden had alleged that the post-mortem examination report of the killed animals was not being sent to them. The report has now been received by the Forest Department authorities, which reveals that the black buck had died of shock and haemorrhage. The post-mortem examination of the two hares revealed traces of metal in the body, which is cited as the possible reason for death. While killing of hares is a compoundable offence, killing a black buck — which is the state animal of Haryana and categorised in Schedule I of endangered species — will get seven years of rigorous imprisonment if the case is proved in a court of law.

SOURCE : The Tribune, Friday, June 10, 2005