PURULIA: Two peacocks were killed and one injured after Naga jawans posted in Baghmundi camp allegedly fired at them in the Ketchangdungi forests on Saturday. Later, locals rescued the injured peacock.
Peacock is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and its hunting is strictly prohibited.
Rupesh Kumar, SP of Purulia, said that officers from Baghmundi police station have already inspected the area and started a probe.
"They have prima facie found that two peacocks were killed. But so far, the accused have not been identified," Rupesh Kumar said. According to him, the jawans have been warned.
The accused jawans are members of the 12 Battalion of Nagaland Armed Police posted at Ayodhya pump storage camp in the Baghmundi area. Since August 2010, the Naga jawans are posted in this camp to combat Maoist menace.
Om Prakash, DFO of Purulia, said a case has been started as per the wild life act. Earlier, the Naga jawans had allegedly killed monkeys, parrots, and bats in the forest.
Dinanath Mahato, secretary of Laharia Shiva Temple committee, said that peacocks roam freely in the forest and attract tourists to the Ayodhya Hills. "Now, our jawans are killing our national birds," he alleged.
Asutosh Mahato, member of Baghmundi gram panchayat, said the locals are so annoyed that they demanded the closure of the camp. "On Saturday, the people of Laharia submitted several deputations to the local police station and forest department. I tried to pacify them and faxed message to the head quarters of the WWF in New Delhi in the evening," he added.
Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 prohibits hunting of wild animals and birds protected under schedules I, II, III and IV of the act.
