Goa Tiger death: Cops build case against foresters

PANAJI: Though the government has rejected permission to the police department to prosecute three forest department officials for the alleged torture and confinement of an accused, Suryakant Majik during investigation into a tiger killing case in Keri last year, the police are trying to pursue the case afresh.

The Valpoi police investigated the case against three of officials â€" assistant conservator of forests Anil Shetgaonkar, and range forest officers Paresh Parab and Tulshidas Wadkar â€" after Majik filed a complaint of harassment. The trio was booked in August last year under Section 325 for causing grievous hurt, Section 342 for wrong confinement, and Section 34 for criminal conspiracy , all under the IPC.

When the police sought permission for the prosecution of the three officials, additional principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF) Shashi Kumar had moved a file for rejection of the request.

"The government approved the APCCF's request a few months ago," a source said while adding that the decision was taken due to a lack of medical evidence to prove charges while the accused were in detention.

"The filing of the case alleging torture and harassment itself raised doubts about its veracity as doctors attending to the suspect had said there were no injuries suggesting torture. The case appear to be politically motivated," the source said. Incidentally, environmentalists and wildlife lovers had also raised suspicions about the charges.

Sources at the Valpoi police station confirmed that permission is being sought to prosecute the three officials. As per rules, a government nod is required to act against government employees. "There is evidence in the case," a police source maintained, while denying that the case was politically motivated.

Majik's charges against the officials had brought the tiger poaching case to a standstill for some time last year. However, the forest department stood by its officials on the ground that they were performing their duty under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in connection with the killing of an animal notified under Schedule one. The APCCF had also stated that the officials were performing their duty.

It may be recalled that the tiger had been trapped and shot in a cashew plantation in February last year. In a breakthrough following the interrogation of some suspects, forest department officials found remains of tiger bones and other body parts in May and June last year.

Samples of the remains were sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for analysis. Reports confirmed that they belonged to the tiger.

Meanwhile, the forest department had filed a chargesheet against five persons, including four from the Majik community of Keri, in the court of judicial magistrate first class, Valpoi.

Charges included killing of a Schedule one animal, attempt to destroy evidence, and illegal use of weapons
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