Sri Vijaya Puram, July 01: The Forest Department and police have intensified action against wildlife offences in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, arresting multiple accused in separate operations after recovering protected wildlife meat and a Schedule I fish species, highlighting continued enforcement under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
In the first operation, officials of the Forest Department intercepted a light motor vehicle during a routine inspection at the Forest Check Post, Ferrargunj, under the Tusnabad Range, at around 5 p.m. on June 25. The vehicle was travelling from Mayabunder towards Sri Vijaya Puram when it was stopped for inspection.
According to the Forest Department, the checking team recovered 0.720 kg of wild boar meat, 0.800 kg of sea turtle meat and 35.350 kg of suspected venison from the vehicle. The seized wildlife articles, along with the vehicle, were taken into custody, and the accused was arrested under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
After completing the prescribed legal formalities, the accused was produced before the competent court, which remanded the individual to judicial custody.
In another operation on June 28, acting on specific and credible information, officials of the Manglutan Range conducted a surprise inspection at the Chouldari Sunday Market. During the inspection, they detected a person allegedly selling Giant Grouper fish, a species listed under Schedule I, Part E of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
A case was registered under the relevant provisions of the Act, and the accused was produced before the court. The court remanded the accused to judicial custody for 14 days. The Forest Department stated that further investigation is underway to identify the source of the protected fish.
In a separate wildlife enforcement case on the same day, personnel of the Police Out Post, Wimberlygunj, detected a wildlife offence involving the possession of 14 kg of venison. The meat was allegedly recovered from the possession of two persons from Shoal Bay-10.
The police handed over the seized wildlife produce and both accused to the Range Officer, Mannarghat, for further legal action. Following receipt of the accused and the seized material, the Forest Department registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The two accused were subsequently arrested and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Sri Vijaya Puram, who remanded them to judicial custody.
The three separate enforcement actions underscore the continued efforts of the Forest Department and police to curb wildlife-related offences and enforce the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
