With the recovery of skin and flesh of a Bison, a protected wildlife species at Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in South Tripura, poaching activities in the sanctuary were unearthed. Forest personnel led by assistant wildlife warden Sangam Baidya detained one person from Rajnagar block in South Tripura district and recovered 4.5 kg of skin and flesh of Bison.
At a time, when plans are in the pipeline to set up a Bison Protection Centre at Trishna Sanctuary for conducting studies and find out ways to increase the number of gradually dwindling Bison, this poaching incident has raised serious concerns.
The poacher identified as Akash Tripura (19) was produced before the Belonia district Court on Friday. The Court granted his bail petition but with conditions.
“It was still unclear as to how many people were involved in this nexus. A probe in this regard was initiated and soon the real truth would come out”, a forest official Krishna Majumder told media persons in front of Belonia Court.
The Court had also granted the prayer of the forest department seeking forensic tests of the samples. “The Court had approved the prayer of sending the samples of seized flesh and skin to the Veterinary laboratory. This will help the forest team to understand the method of poaching going on there”, Majumder added.
Local sources said, the poaching of Bison in protected forest land is impossible without the help from inside.
“It is evident that insiders are involved and these animals are facing the brunt of it”, a local said. The incident has unearthed the active presence of poachers around the sanctuary and without stern actions for the protection of precious wildlife will be a tough nut to crack.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged under sections of Indian Forest Act and section 50 and 51 of Wild Life Protection Act against the accused Akash Tripura.
