Porcupine hunting case: Maneka Gandhi’s intervention leads to arrest of Punjab man

The Rajpura-based antheral has been accused of grooming and utilizing his pitbull dogs to hunt chaotic animals, including porcupines which is listed arsenic an endangered species

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The signifier of rearing pitbull dogs for the amerciable hunting of protected carnal taxon and the usage of societal media videos to garner views and beforehand the enactment successful Punjab has invited the wrath of carnal rights activistic Maneka Gandhi. Following her intervention, the Wildlife Department of Punjab has arrested a Rajpura-based antheral and taken 2 of his dogs successful custody.

The Sadar Rajpura constabulary person registered an FIR nether Sections 9, 39 and 51 of The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 2022) and arrested Ajay Kumar of Jansua colony successful Rajpura for allegedly grooming and utilizing pitbulls to hunt chaotic animals, including porcupines.

“A ailment on with a pen thrust was received by america from Maneka Gandhi’s bureau showing the Instagram relationship of the accused successful which the accused is allegedly seen utilizing his dogs to hunt a porcupine,” said Patiala Divisional Forest Officer (wildlife) Guramanpreet Singh. “The videos were aboriginal deleted by the accused. For us, it is important to cognize if helium has been progressive successful hunting much animals and also, if the accused has been supplying the nutrient and different carnal parts to others,” said the DFO.

Listed arsenic endangered species, porcupines are protected nether Indian Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and hence sidesplitting them is an offence. However, this carnal that comes nether the ample rodent class is killed rampantly for its meat, successful summation to the medicinal usage of its bones and quills. Porcupines person crisp quills that they usage to support themselves from predators. “As soon arsenic the missive was received, we pressed our squad into enactment and the accused was identified and constabulary were approached to apprehension the accused,” stated the DFO.

Meanwhile the constabulary took distant 2 dogs — some of boxer breed — from the accused. “We deliberation the accused got a whiff of the constabulary raid and managed to displacement the dogs to immoderate different place. We volition grill him and effort to hint the dogs. Also, buyers of porcupine meat, if any, volition beryllium identified and strict enactment arsenic per instrumentality volition beryllium taken against them,” said a elder constabulary official.