Gang of 10 poachers behind leopard's death

18-02-2010
Gang of 10 poachers behind leopard's death
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Gang-of-10-poachers-behind-leopards-death/articleshow/5585222.cms

A gang of 10 poachers was responsible for the death of a leopard whose carcass was found ensnared in Nana Khokhara village of Ghogha taluka on February 6, forest department officials said on Wednesday.

Acting swiftly after the leopard's carcass was found, the forest department nabbed four poachers Vana Devipujak, Jagu Devipujak, Bala Devipujak and Samat Devipujak -- from Nana Khokhara and obtained their remand after producing them before a court in Bhavnagar. During their interrogation, the accused revealed the name of six other co-accused, who had set up the snare to kill the beast.

"The accused said they had laid the trap with the aim of ensnaring an animal of the size of a dear or hyena, but when the leopard was trapped and killed, six members of their gang got panicked and fled from the village," said a senior forest officer, who declined to disclose the name of the absconding accused citing secrecy of investigation.

Meanwhile, the forest department has launched the manhunt