In a landmark decision JMFC Bhiwapur on Monday sentenced five persons to three years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) in a leopard poaching case. The court also imposed fine of Rs 20,000 each. The poachers were held guilty under Sections 9, 39 (3), 40 (2), 44 (1) a, 52 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Those convicted are Gulab Rama Barekar (55), GulabMangruDadmal (45), KaniramDayaramNannaware (53), VilasMangruKhate (50), all from Kholdoda, and BholasinghHirasinghBawari (51), Band. They have also to undergo additional 6 months’ RI and pay fine of Rs 500 each under the Mumbai Forest Produce Transport Act (Vidarbha region), 1960.
Those acquitted are Goma BisanChowkw (70), a resident of Khadsangi in Chimur tehsil; SambhajiDajibaChoudhari (65), Manohar HarbajiKubde (65), residents of Besur; DeepasinghHirasinghBawari (37), a resident of Nand and RajkumarRamteke, a resident of Bhandara and BhauraoRamajiNannaware, a resident of Kholdoda, who passed away during the course of the case.
The case was filed by P D Masram, DFO Amaravati and then Assistant Conservator of Forest Nagpur -2. On a tip off, a flying squad led by K G Allurkar had seized a plastic bag containing leopard skin from the farm of GulabRamajiBarekar in Kholdoda on February 13, 2006, and booked the culprits.
