Inter-state gang may be active in Sabarkantha

09-04-2010
Inter-state gang may be active in Sabarkantha
Times of India
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State forest department officials investigating the two recent cases where leopard skin and claws were found think that the poaching happened in Rajasthan and later the body parts of the animal were brought here for trading.

Senior foresters said the main accused Babu Modia was a resident of the district and had relatives in Rajasthan. They said there was a possibility that the accused might be dealing with traders from Rajasthan.

A senior officer refusing to be quoted said that poaching was rampant in Rajasthan, due to involvement of local tribes. "In Gujarat local people might be involved in trade but their involvement in killing was a remote possibility," he said. The forest officials said that there was a possibility of poaching in the area, but now the officials have employed informers in the village as a result of which this trade was getting exposed.

He said that it was proper vigil and feedback from the informers that was helping the officials. However, officials said that after the poaching incident of the lions in 2007, the government has asked the officials to keep a vigil and has even roped in the intelligence bureau officials.

Chief conservator of forest (crime) DK Sharma said the spurt in such recovery is only because of the proper vigil by the forest department. "The main accused, Modia, has relatives in Rajasthan and hence he was moving between Sabarkantha and Rajasthan." Sharma said that the possibility of interstate gang could not be ruled out.

He said that the forest officials were also investigating on this lines and once Modia is arrested, the picture will be clearer.