Bhopal, August 19: A court in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district has sentenced four individuals to three years of rigorous imprisonment for poaching a bear. Each has also been fined ₹10,000. This case dates back eight years, initiated by the Forest Range Sarni (General).
One co-accused remains at large, so no verdict has been issued against him. The convicted individuals include Preetish, Ramen alias Chunky, Rahul (all residents of Batkidoh), and Vasu from Nischintpur village.
Government lawyers Ajit Singh and Abhaydeep Singh Thakur represented the state. On December 14, 2018, a dead bear was discovered in a stream near the boundary line in the Hirapur beat under the Sarni Forest Range.
The bear’s right paw was severed, and the claws from the other paw were missing, indicating signs of poaching. The forest department filed a case against unknown individuals under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the four accused. During police questioning, they confessed to their crime, admitting they had set up a stake and galvanized iron wire in the forest stream to electrocute the wild animal. The bear died from the electric shock.
Following the killing, the accused mutilated the bear by cutting off a paw and removing the claws for use in black magic. After proving the crime, a formal complaint was filed in court.
After reviewing the evidence presented during the trial, Judicial Magistrate First Class Suresh Yadav found the four guilty of poaching and possessing parts of the bear’s body. Each received a sentence of three years in prison and a fine of ₹10,000.
No decision was made regarding co-accused Kalu alias Subhash (father: Khirat Badhai, resident of Nutandanga village), as he is still at large. The forest department is intensifying efforts to apprehend the fugitive and ensure justice is served.
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