Kingpin in Khapa tigress poaching surrenders

The Times of India , Wednesday, February 08, 2017
Correspondent : Vijay Pinjarkar
Nagpur: Finally, Vinayak Savvalakhe, the main accused in the electrocution of Khapa tigress and two sambars surrendered before forest officials on Tuesday morning.

On Monday, one accused, DevidasBoriwar, had already surrendered and also confessed to the crime. He was produced before judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Saoner, on Tuesday, who granted a day's forest custody remand (FCR) instead of 10 days sought by the forest department.

The case exposes failure of Khapa forest officials, who did not arrest the accused under alleged pressure from BJP leader Ashok Dhote, who finally also negotiated the surrender. Dhote was also present in court when Boriwar was produced on Tuesday.

Both the accused were very much in Khapa and surrendered after their anticipatory bail was rejected by additional sessions judge OP Jaiswal last week. Yet, forest officials claimed that they arrested both the accused.

"Savvalakhe was arrested from Khapa in the evening and we are busy with other formalities like medical examination of the accused. We will record his statement on Wednesday. Savvalakhe is not cooperating with investigating officials," said Khapa RFO Shankar Tagde.

However, the accused was not arrested but he arrived at the forest office around 10.30am on Tuesday along with some BJP supporters and surrendered. However, he was shown as arrested in the evening. Forest sources said local BJP leaders are mounting pressure to go soft on Savvalakhe.

Earlier, in his confession statement, Boriwar, who worked on Savvalakhe's contract farm, admitted that the tigress and two sambars were electrocuted around 2am on January 13 when he was on the farm.

Live electric current had been connected to the farm fence from 11kv line passing through the farm. Around 2am, when the line tripped, Boriwar was shocked to find a tigress and two sambars lying dead.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/kingpin-in-khapa-tigress-poaching-surrenders/articleshow/57027893.cms
 


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