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
.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-death-Cops-build-case-against-foresters/articleshow/6516430.cms

NHAI plans highways through five national parks

BANGALORE: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to build four-lane highways, literally cutting across five national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The plan also includes the Bandipur Tiger Reserve wherein currently, the High Court has imposed a night traffic ban.

According to the NHAI proposal, around 3,000 km of national highways in the state would be developed as four and six-lane roads on a public private partnership (PPP) basis under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) scheme.

The plan also specifies that around 1,491 km of national highways would be built by the state Public Works Department with assistance from the World Bank. The project has also received a signed support from the state government. In all, around 15 national highways of the state would be developed as four-lane and six-lane highways.

However, around five national highways fall under national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

National highways like 13 (Solapur to Mangalore, through the forests of Shimoga, Sringeri and Karkala), 67 (Mettupalyam to Gundlupet), 234 (Mangalore to Mulbagal, cutting through Belthangady and Mudigere) come under the Someshwara and Mookambika wildlife sanctuaries.

And National Highways 212 (Kozhikode to Kollegal) and 209 (Bangalore to Dindigul through Chamarajnagar) come under the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. In the case of Bandipur, after consistent lobbying by conservationists, the High Court of Karnataka imposed a ban on night traffic.

“The highway authorities will need a clearance from the state and national wildlife board and later from the Supreme Court,” said Sanjay Gubbi, assistant director for Centre for Wildlife Studies. “Principal secretary PWD V Umesh had sent us a proposal in this regard,” informed Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Nagaraj Hampoole.

“We have directed them to obtain permission from the national wildlife board,’’ he said.

When contacted, Secretary PWD, Lakshman Rao Peshve said the matter has been exclusively dealt by Umesh and that he had nothing to comment on it in this regard.

Principal Secretary Umesh was not available for comment as he is on a visit to Brazil.

http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/nhai-plans-highways-through-five-national-parks/204899.html

Ranthambore's tiger grapples with old age

JAIPUR: A young calf tied to a tree just outside the Lakarda outpost may look strangely out of place at Ranthambore National Park. However, conservation has its strange stories in the wild.

The calf was kept as a reserved food for Machli, the most famous tigress of the national park. More than 15 years of age now -- the maximum a tiger can live in the wild -- Machli's health is often unstable and her future is "uncertain."

In the event she was not able to hunt, the calf will be given to her. "Sometimes she is not able to hunt for days together. In such cases, she shrinks in size and in extreme cases, she may die. Therefore, we have to be ready with such measures," explained R S Shekhawat, director of the park.

Machli or T-16, is not only the most famous tigress of the park -- thanks to it being sighted by numerous visitors -- it has also given as many as 11 cubs to the park. Hence there was no surprise when, in April last year, the Travel Operators For Tigers (TOFT) gave her the 'Lifetime Achievement Award.'.

Machli had lost three of her teeth in fights with crocodiles to save her young ones in summer. "I have seen three instances when she killed a crocodile during my tenure. The crocodiles come up on dry land in summer and are a danger to the cubs," said Shekhawat. But with years the story has changed. Conservationists, though not willing, when coaxed into it, agree that her future is uncertain. "Anything can happen to her anytime," they say. Now she lives in the Lakarda area of the forest and has managed to add a bit more to her territory after the death of another tiger, T-4, beyond the Lakarda nullah.

"In her prime, she not only ruled the Lakarda area but also had the Malik talab, Tambakhan, Padam talab, Rajbag and lot of other areas beyond the fort to her credit. Eventually, her daughter, T-17, snatched away some of her territory and others too were taken away," says Shekhawat. In fact, two of the tigers relocated to Sariska are also her offsprings.

According to an estimate by TOFT, Machli in the past 10 years has contributed more than $10 million per annum to the economy of Ranthambore. Why then should a tigress so brave be called Machli ? "It's because of the marks on her face that resemble a fish," says Shekhawat. Something to watch out then for the lucky few who manage to spot her this time when the park reopens on October 1.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ranthambores-tiger-grapples-with-old-age/articleshow/6516150.cms