Poaching case: MP conspirator held

5-7-2007

Poaching case: MP conspirator held

Times of India Ahmedabad Edition

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Ahmedabad/Poaching_case_MP_conspirator_held/articleshow/2173030.cms

AHMEDABAD: The CID (crime) arrested a conspirator, Kalyan Singh, in the lion poaching case from Panna in Madhya Pradesh. He is on remand till July 5.

Meanwhile, a court in Una, Junagadh, turned down the bail pleas of the accused arrested in this case earlier. Forensic evidence helped CID fight against bail petitions of the 34 persons from MP arrested on charges of poaching eight Asiatic lions in March this year.

Traces of lion blood found on metal traps recovered from the accused matched with samples taken from the lion carcasses. "Besides, ample forensic evidence from other weapons like spears along with circumstantial evidence, helped us put up strong argument against the bail applications filed at Una and Palitana courts," said CID officials.

The accused had moved separate bail applications, soon after CID filed chargesheets in the three poaching cases. "But evidence collected against the accused and the nature of the offence, considering the fact that Asiatic lions are one of the most endangered species in the world, convinced the court to turn down their applications," said CID officials.

"We had cross-checked at their home town in Panna district of MP and found that their names did not figure in the voters' list there, neither did they have any permanent address. Had they been given the bail, the accused could have done a disappearing act," officials said.

"Singh is a habitual offender and has been accused of poaching in MP. Of the 34 poachers who were arrested from Junagadh and Bhavnagar, one had called on Singh's mobile phone and this led the police to him," said CID officials. The investigators found out that Singh had stayed near Bhavnagar in February and March. The first poaching was reported on March 3 when three carcasses were found in Gir.