Diary of a poacher: 654 leopards, 40 tigers, 32 otters...

June 8, 2006

Krishnadas Rajagopal, New Delhi: Its yellowing pages give a grim

account of how India's one of the most organised poaching syndicates

led by ring-leader, Sansarchand, killed, skinned and sold 654

leopards, 40 tigers, 32 otters and a number of other protected

species in the country's wildlife preserves.

CBI claimed to have recovered from Akash, the son of 'Veerappan of

North India', a slim diary with insights into his father's extensive

poaching network across the country and abroad besides giving

details of trading in wildlife trophies worth Rs 1.38 crore.

" The startling discovery in the form of a notebook/diary allegedly

belonging to accused Akash contains details of the trading done in

654 leopards, 40 tigers and 32 otters, etc, valuing Rs 1.38 crore, "

the agency said.

In a supplementary chargesheet filed on May 29 against the kingpin's

right-hand man Satyabhan, CBI has highlighted the diary as prime

evidence to nail all the accused under the stringent MCOCA.

" The transactions in the diary not only reflect the economy involved

in the trade but also indicate the extent to which the unabated

offence against wildlife of the country is being committed by the

organised crime syndicate controlled by Sansarchand, " the agency

said in the chargesheet.

In the diary, a code letter(s) or word determines each animal. 'C'

stands for cheetahs, 'T' for tigers, 'A' (AK or AG) denotes otters

and the word 'panja' synonyms tiger claws.

The diary gives accounts of transactions dating back to the year

1974, CBI said adding that it had first got wind of the diary from

the confessional statement of Babu, an agent of Sansarchand and

accused under MCOCA.

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