SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: The South Goa Forest Division through the Margao Range arrested one Flaviano Diniz, a resident of Talaulim, Navelim for allegedly killing two snakes, a video of which went viral on social media platforms.
Diniz was arrested by the Forest Department team within 24 hours of the video surfacing on social media.
The viral clip shows the accused hitting two snakes with a stick and killing them in a field. He then tied the snakes to his two-wheeler and dragged them in a victory lap-like act, which invited widespread criticism.
The people demanded that he be arrested immediately. The forest team immediately launched an probe and with the help of the scooter number, traced the accused, who was arrested by Margao RFO Prakash Naik. His scooter has been attached and the stick used in committing the offence was also recovered.
The Deputy Conservator of Forest South Goa Anil Shetgaonkar has commended the investigation and arrest done by his team.
He said, "These rat snakes are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act. The corpses of the snakes were dumped in a water body and may have got flown away. We are trying to recover them".
The accused, who was produced before the JMFC, was granted bail. However, he has been directed to visit the forest office for next three days.
