3 years rigorous imprisonment to two hunters guilty of killing wild animals

Jwali. After the conviction of two hunters accused of killing the wild animal Sakralu by beating them with stones, the court has sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment of 3 years each and has also sentenced them to a fine of Rs 10,000 each. Non-payment of fine will result in additional imprisonment.

The court of Jwali-based Judicial Magistrate First Class Deepali Gambhir gave this verdict, holding Sikander Kumar, resident of Chalwara, Jwali, and Vijay Kumar, resident of Maltehar, District Mandi, guilty under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. According to the court order, after the fine is recovered from both the culprits, the amount will be given to the Wildlife Department as compensation to be used for wildlife protection work.
Assistant District Attorney Jwali Ravi Kumar, who is defending the case on behalf of the government, said that on October 24, 2009, information was received over telephone at the police post Kotla that two suspicious people were roaming in the forest going from Balwada village towards Bharnala.

On the spot, the police caught Sikandar Kumar and Vijay Kumar red handed with the dead wild animal Sakralu. Police investigation had revealed that the two hunters had beaten Sakralu to death with stones in the forest and when they were taking him away, the police caught them.

After this, the police conducted post-mortem of the dead wild animal and handed it over to the forest department. On the complaint of Forest Range Officer Kotla, a case was registered against both the poachers under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 at Jwali Police Station.