Tiger bones case: 2nd accused sent to K'taka for interrogation

[Debasis Bose]

TOI - UDHAGAMANDALAM: Sekar, the second accused in the tiger bone case, arrested by the Tamil Nadu forest department, was sent to Karnataka on Tuesday for interrogation.

According to Karnataka forest officials, his judicial custody for three days has been permitted by the court. Interrogation of the accused is expected to throw more light on the case and the illegal trade of animal parts, the officials said.

In the meantime, Sathyamangalam forest officials, a few days ago, arrested another accused related to the case and seized 17 tiger claws from his possession.

On October 1, officials of Biligiri Ranga Temple Tiger (BRT) arrested Selvakumar, a resident of a village near Mettupalayam, for possessing tiger bones, near Poonjanur, close to Sathyamangalam forest area. Inquiry revealed that there were a few others involved in the operation. After three weeks, forest officials arrested another person, identified as Sekar, a local tribal.

SS Lingaraj, conservator of forest, BRT Reserve told TOI, "We have sought body-warrant of the second accused, Sekar who is under judicial custody. Permission has been granted. Hence he has been shifted to Karanataka," He added, "Sekar will be in the custody of the forest department for three days for interrogation."

A few days ago, Sathyamangalam forest officials cornered one more offender under the Wildlife Act in connection with the same case and recovered 17 tiger claws from him. He was identified as Palanisamy, a resident of Mavanatham settlement in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR).

Rajkumar, district forest officer- Sathyamangalam division, told TOI, "The seized tiger claws were found to be fresh. After inquiry, Palanisamy was handed over to judicial custody."

Both Sekar and Palanisamy had reportedly confessed that the animal parts were meant for sale to Selvakumar and the carcass was buried inside the forest area.

[Mrudul Godbole]

Don't know how to react, feel good to know that the poachers are caught or feel sad thinking of the numbers of tigers they would have killed till now :(. As long as there is demand, tigers will be poached. Thanks for sharing the news.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Poaching is on the rise. It takes ages for conviction. Most of the times they poachers get away due to loopholes in investigation. For every case that comes to our notice, more than 10 cases go unnoticed. If only poaching was a problem then it could have been dealt with. But the road building through the forests, sacrificing forests for industries, canals, mines etc are drastically reducing the habitat. With the Govt. allowing killing of herbivores like wild boars, nilgai etc on the pretext of destroying crops, it is a surprise that our forests still have predators.

[Subhash Shrivastava]

There are poachers and there are white collared poachers. The poachers may have some stigma attached, however small, the white collared poacher stand tall on a podium and dole out the rainbow colors in garb of development to masses who extoll him as a visionary.
How can we only condemn these folks, what about the government and officials who just sneer away mockingly at the forest conservation and give it a bloody kick now and then.
And even in the case of these poachers, the chain will lead to the high fliers only, as the tigers parts have to travel thousand of kilometers to their ultimate buyers.
God, if exists, should not save us, the humans.

[Debasis Bose]

Conservation can exist in true sense if Grooming at home, Teaching kids to be honest and being unselfish by example, Proper Education at home and School, Employment, Respect for humans and all living creature.

That is the only way to preserve nature.