A case related to poaching of blackbuck has been reported in the Patna district of Bihar. The incident came to light after some villagers – near Katesar-Amnabad village of Bihta, adjacent to Patna – chased a Scorpio SUV at around 9 pm after a tip-off. They managed to stop the vehicle and found a blackbuck inside it. Some locals informed the police about it. They even shot a video of the incident and shared it on social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.
Police immediately reached the spot and arrested both of them and seized the SUV. The arrested persons have been identified as Mohammad Salim, a resident of village Mohalla Charhazar under Maner police station and Budhan Rai of Patila village. The cops then informed DFO Ruchi Singh of the forest department of Patna. Cops suspect that sand mafia Guddu Khan is behind the poaching. Villagers said that the vehicle belongs to him.
Considering the sensitivity of the case, DFO along with the entire team reached Bihta police station where they interrogated arrested driver Salim and his accomplice Kapil Kumar. Their statement was recorded after which the police team took them to Patna. An FIR has been registered against the accused and further investigation is underway.
The incident comes to light at a time when a nationwide lockdown has been imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. Shockingly, the poachers managed to get a lockdown pass from the district administration.
Patna’s DFO Ruchi Singh said that female blackbuck – a species of endangered antelope – was being smuggled in Scorpio BR 01 DD-9292. The vehicle is registered on the name Arshad Khan, brother of Farid Hussain alias Guddu Khan, vice chairman of Maner Nagar in Patna district.
