Sri Vijaya Puram, July 3: The arrest of Youth Congress State General Secretary Nambi KT in a wildlife offence case has triggered a political row, with M.A. Sajid, State President of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Vice-President of the Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC), alleging a possible conspiracy behind the action while maintaining that anyone found guilty should face the full force of the law.
Speaking to The Wave Andaman, Sajid said the circumstances surrounding Nambi KT’s arrest raised several questions and warranted a fair, impartial and transparent investigation. While hinting at a possible conspiracy, he stopped short of accusing any individual or agency of wrongdoing. He added that if the investigation establishes any violation of law, the legal process should take its course without exception.
Rangalal Halder, President of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), when contacted by The Wave Andaman, declined to comment on the matter.
The arrest has attracted political attention as the Congress party has in recent months adopted an increasingly vocal position on environmental and forest-related issues in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has publicly raised concerns over the environmental implications of the proposed Great Nicobar Project, arguing that the islands’ forests and fragile ecosystems require stronger protection. At the local level, senior Congress leaders, including T.S.G. Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the ANTCC, have repeatedly advocated the conservation of the islands’ biodiversity, endangered flora and fauna, and stressed that development must be balanced with environmental sustainability. Against that backdrop, the arrest of a senior Youth Congress office-bearer in a case registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has assumed political significance beyond the legal proceedings themselves.
According to the Forest Department, three persons have been arrested in two separate wildlife offence cases following enforcement operations at Wimberlygunj and Ferrargunj that led to the seizure of more than 50 kg of suspected protected wildlife meat.
Officials said personnel from the Police Out Post, Wimberlygunj detected a suspected wildlife offence on June 28 and recovered approximately 14 kg of suspected venison from two persons from Shoal Bay No. 10. The accused, including Nambi KT, along with the seized wildlife produce, were handed over to the Range Officer, Mannarghat.
A case was subsequently registered under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Both accused were formally arrested and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sri Vijaya Puram, who remanded them to judicial custody for one week. Forest officials said further action would be taken in accordance with the directions of the court after completion of the remand period.
In a separate operation on June 25, forest personnel conducting routine vehicle checks at the Forest Check Post, Ferrargunj, under the Tusnabad Range, intercepted a light motor vehicle travelling from Mayabunder towards Sri Vijaya Puram.
During the inspection, officials said they recovered approximately 35.350 kg of suspected venison, 0.720 kg of suspected wild boar meat and 0.800 kg of suspected sea turtle meat from the vehicle. The accused was arrested after completion of legal formalities, produced before the competent court and remanded to judicial custody.
The spotted deer (Axis axis), commonly known as the chital, is a protected wild animal under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Hunting, possession, transportation or trade of the animal or its meat without lawful authority is prohibited under the Act and attracts penal consequences. Although spotted deer are found in large numbers in several parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the species continues to enjoy statutory protection, and offences involving the animal are investigated by the Forest Department under the provisions of the Act.
The Forest Department said investigations in both cases are continuing to ascertain the source of the seized wildlife produce and whether a larger hunting or wildlife trafficking network is involved.
Officials reiterated that illegal hunting, possession, transportation and trade of protected wildlife species are punishable offences under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and said strict action would be taken against anyone found violating the law.
The allegations against the accused remain under investigation. Their guilt or innocence will be determined by the competent court.
