Agartala: Tripura Forest Department officials on Friday detained an auto-rickshaw driver near Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in the South Tripura district for alleged involvement in a deer poaching racket. The accused was apprehended in the Bagafa, Kakulia Rajnagar range area while reportedly attempting to purchase meat from the poachers, informed the sanctuary’s wildlife warden, Bimal Das, to EastMojo.
“We have filed a case with the local court. During the interrogation of the accused, we identified individuals involved in the poaching activities. Although we have conducted multiple raids at their residences, they managed to evade arrest. However, we are closely monitoring their movements,” Das said.
Reports suggest that 7 kilograms of raw meat were seized during the operation. The poachers had been selling the meat at a flat rate of Rs 2,000 per kilogram in a remote area. Acting on a tip-off, forest department personnel launched an operation but were unable to apprehend the primary offenders, who fled before their arrival. However, the auto-rickshaw driver, allegedly at the scene to buy meat, was detained.
In a similar incident on October 26, forest department officials seized homemade firearms and a small quantity of raw meat from the North Kasari area in South Tripura district.
Authorities have intensified efforts to curb poaching activities around the sanctuary and continue to track those involved.
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