MARGAO: Sixteen employees of the State-owned Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) arrested by the forest officials on Saturday late night on suspicion of poaching were released on bond by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Sanguem with directions to report to the Range Forest Officer (RFO) for a period five days.
The court directed them to furnish a bond of Rs 10,000 each with one surety in like amount. They were also ordered to report to the investigating RFO Devidas Velip for a period of five days.
It may be recalled that 16 KTCL employees were apprehended inside the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary on late Saturday night for carrying of injurious substances, causing fire and possession of ammunition for violation of Sections 27, 30, 31 and 32 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
The forest officers during the search operation, found live cartridges, an axe, a hatchet, and cooking utensils from the KTCL employees.
It is learnt that the 16 accused travelled on four scooters, a private vehicle and entered the forest area through the forest department check-post at Netravali by informing the officials that they were going in for a picnic. It is reportedly learnt that one of the KTCL employees was recently promoted and had decided to hold a party after hunting wild animals.
They however failed to return that night making the forest officials suspicious. The forest guards then moved deep inside the sanctuary and on patrolling the area found that the hunting party had lit a fire and were trying to cook, said sources. The forest guards then chased the hunting party and apprehended 16 persons.
“On searching them, live cartridges were found in the bag of one KTC employee. The worker however claimed that he possessed a licenced gun and the cartridges had accidentally left in his bag,” stated the officer adding that no guns were recovered from them.
Sources said the officers had taken the investigations seriously as one among the group had a past case against him for hunting with explosives.
According to the Forest Department sources, efforts are still being made to find the other two who escaped as blood stains were found on the spot.
Sources in the KTCL stated that six of the accused were residing inside the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and the group had planned a picnic near a spring at Salgini and had carried chicken, mutton, fish to the spot. However, they were found using fire and preparing food inside the sanctuary, which is prohibited under the Forest Act and due action will be taken against them for violation of the Act.
Meanwhile, KTCL Chairman and MLA Ulhas Tuenkar on Monday said that due action will be taken against 16 employees of the Corporation under the Forest Act.
Tuenkar said, “I have held an inquiry with the managing director of KTCL. We have also received a letter from the Forest Department according to which the Kadamba staff have been booked under sections 27, 30, 31 and 32 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. They have been accused of illegally entering the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, carrying of injurious substances, causing fire and possessing ammunition.”
He said six of the accused reside inside the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and the group had planned a picnic near a spring at Salgini.
