NAGPUR: To increase the scope of the probe in tiger poaching cases, a proposal has been sent to the state government to set up a special investigating team (SIT). The move comes two years after one of the biggest rackets was busted, leading to the arrest of over 30 organized poachers belonging to the Baheliya community from Katni in Madhya Pradesh for poaching nearly 25 tigers since June 6, 2013.
State's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) SarjanBhagat confirmed that a proposal has been under consideration of the government. It was sent last month.
"The SIT will be headed by joint director of CBI, Mumbai. The CBI is already probing poaching of three tiger cases. Its scope will be extended to 11 tiger poaching cases in the region," said Bhagat.
The SIT will comprise field directors of Pench, Tadoba, Melghat, and Navegaon-Nagzira tiger reserves. It will also have police officials, legal experts and chief conservators of forests (CCFs) of territorial circles from the region.
However, experts have asked what purpose will SIT serve when forest department has already arrested over 30 poachers and cases are being fought in the court of law?
To this Bhagat said, "Currently, CBI is looking after only three poaching cases. The advantage of SIT will be that all the 11 cases will be investigated together and many poachers who are still wanted will be arrested and their cross-border links will also be exposed."
Of the list of 56 poachers wanted by the department, 30 have been arrested and 26 are still absconding. Though the forest department has proposed investigation of 11 cases by the SIT, confession by arrested tiger skin trader SarjuBagdi alias Surajbhan from Delhi to TOI said that different traders trafficked more than 20 tiger skins from Vidarbha region in 2012-13.
The state government had sought CBI probe on July 26, 2013, but the premier investigation agency took over the probe only in April 2014. After CBI came in, it managed to arrest some dreaded poachers like Kuttu, who was involved in poaching tigers around Navegaon-Nagzira reserve.
Even after passage of two years, trial in tiger poaching cases has not started due to neglect by the territorial officials, who have not been providing staff and infrastructure to CBI and the investigating officer. The separate poaching cases have also not been brought together.
IN A NUTSHELL
* Proposal mooted to set up a special investigating team to widen scope of the probe in tiger poaching cases
* Joint director of CBI, Mumbai, will head the SIT
* Field directors of Pench, Tadoba, Melghat, and Navegaon-Nagzira tiger reserves will be members of the SIT
* The SIT will also have cops, legal experts and chief conservators of forests (CCFs) of territorial circles
