Tiger killing: Seven poachers sent to jail

TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 01.47AM IST BHOPAL: Seven persons, including six tribals who were arrested on the charge of killing a tiger that was found dead two days ago in Veerpur range of the Bhopal forest circle, were sent to jail till June 26 by a court on Thursday. MP forest department officials are looking for two more persons wanted in connection with tiger poaching case. Accused Bhagwan Singh Bhel, Bhaina Bhel, Kare Singh Bhel, Mor Singh Bhel, Kamal Bhel, Jagdia Bhel and Naval Singh were produced before Sehore district's chief judicial magistrate's court (CJM) which remanded them to judicial custody. "The accused have been charged under relevant sections of wildlife protection act (WPA). One section under which the accused have been charged could attract a punishment of 10 years imprisonment," forest department officials, said. "We have recovered the equipment used in poaching the tiger and other evidences from the accused," a top forest official said. He said one of the accused - Kher Singh is being prosecuted for the second time under WPA. Earlier, he had killed a barking deer, he added. All the accused have confessed to poaching, forest officials said adding that they have told the forest department officials that they had killed the big cat accidentally as it walked into the electric trap which was laid for some herbivore, he said. After coming out of the court, one of the accused Kher Singh claimed that they have been falsely implicated in the poaching case. He said that they were not having any connection with the tiger killing. The accused had electrocuted the big cat close to a water body at Kathotia area possibly on Sunday. As the tiger was too heavy they chopped it into two pieces in a vain attempt to dispose it off. Carcass of this tiger was found on Tuesday. This tiger, weighing about 200 to 300 kg and aged about four-year-old, has formed its territory in the forested area on the outskirts of the state capital. Earlier, this tiger had strayed into National Judicial Academy (NJA), located in the outskirts of Bhopal. With the number of big cats swelling in Ratapani wildlife sanctuary in adjoining Raisen district, this tiger had formed it territory outside. State forest department is looking for two more persons wanted in connection with tiger poaching case. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Tiger-killing-Seven-poachers-sent-to-jail/articleshow/13911263.cms