India: The Amravati sessions court has acquitted two tiger poachers — Bhajan Hotel Dhurve and Shiri alias Prakash Bisan Chavan (35) — in Dhakna tiger poaching case inside Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR). 

Both the accused, belonging to Baheliya community from Katni in Madhya Pradesh, were convicted in January 2016 under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, by additional chief judicial magistrate, Amravati. The two accused were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 5 years and a fine of Rs15,000, with simple imprisonment for 7 months in default. 

The accused had challenged the order in the Amravati sessions court, where judge AL Pansare acquitted them. The accused were charged with killing a tiger in Dhakna on March 4, 2013, at Tukaithal and then trading its body parts. 

Forest officials had also seized a dry skin of tiger they were selling. This was perhaps the first case where investigating officer and ACF Vishal Mali collected scientific evidence, which was considered a model case by the forest department. 

MTR consists of about 2,029 sqkm forest, with the Dhakna range in the north side of Gugamal National Park, which is about 220 sqkm. The Dhakna area being most hilly and rugged, it is inaccessible to humans all round the year. Taking advantage of this, poachers targeted tigers here with the help of accused Madhu Singh and others. 

Madhu in his statements had confessed that Shiri and Bhajan were paid Rs 5,000 each for Dhakna tiger deal. Both were connected to tiger skin and body parts trader Ranjit, who placed order for tiger skin and bones. Based on this order, Madhu Singh and others hunted the Dhakna tiger. The forest officials had also seized mobile, bird traps, handmade bombs, iron knife etc from Shiri. 

From the statements of accused it was revealed that Bhara and Bhajan were also involved in the deal. They had asked Madhu Singh to keep watch in Melghat area and get connected to persons involved in hunting. Shiri also confessed he had informed Madhu Singh and Chintaram at Amravati about tracking the tiger which they later killed. 

Accused Bhajan, who was nabbed from Odisa, also revealed that Bhara and he had met Madhu Singh, who had handed over the tiger skin and bones at Tukaithal railway station. The CDR details of mobile phones being used by the accused also nailed their involvement in the case.

However, Amravati sessions court ruled that prosecution failed to prove that both accused have killed and sold the tiger. Besides, there is no clarity about the date or month in which the hunting was done.

The court said there is discrepancy in the place where hunting of female tiger has been executed. Six persons were accused of the offence, and names of present accused were absent.

“In the circumstances, the prosecution is heavily burdened to show complicity. Further, there is no clarity about the date of hunting. The CCMB report is also not attached. Merely on the basis of confessional statements one cannot conclude that female tiger has indeed been hunted, as claimed by the prosecution,” the court said.

(Source: The Times of India)