(IN): Tougher law to save rhinos- Prison term to be 10yrs

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080513/jsp/northeast/story_9260635.jsp

 

*Tougher law to save rhinos*

 

- Prison term to be 10yrs, fine to double A STAFF REPORTER*

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*Guwahati, May 12: *Stung by the sharp rise in cases of rhino killing,

Dispur is contemplating making changes in the anti-poaching law by

increasing the prison term from three to 10 years and doubling the fine to

Rs 50,000.

 

Announcing this today, chief minister Tarun Gogoi declared that his

government would amend Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act to make

punishment under the act more stringent.

 

The government had decided to amend the act to curb poaching and illegal

trade in wildlife and its derivatives, Gogoi said this morning after a

plantation programme in Dispur.

 

" I have asked the forest department to submit a proposal on the amendments

required to be made so that it can be passed in the Assembly as early as

possible. "

 

Poachers are almost having a free run at Kaziranga National Park and Rajiv

Gandhi National Park in Orang, the two rhino habitats in Assam, killing 10

rhinos so far this year by hoodwinking security arrangements.

 

Dispur has already written to the Centre seeking a CBI investigation into

incidents of rhino poaching in the state.

 

Forest minister Rockybul Hussain said his department was close to finalising

the amendment.

 

" We want to amend Section 51 of the act that will raise the minimum prison

term to 10 years from the existing three years and the minimum fine from Rs

25,000 to Rs 50,000. After the amendment, a poacher will be tried by a court

not below that of a sessions judge. "

 

Hussain said the urgency of the situation had prompted Gogoi to brush aside

his suggestion to form a committee to look into the proposed amendment.

 

" The chief minister has told us that formation of a committee will take time

and asked us to submit the suggestions directly to him. "

 

According to Hussain, once the amendment comes into force, a poacher will

not be able to secure bail from a court lower than that of a sessions judge.

 

 

He hoped that the amendment would create a deterrent by instilling fear

among poachers by sending a message that they would no longer be able to

escape punishment for their heinous acts.

 

" After the Andhra Pradesh government increased jail term from two to seven

years for outraging the modesty of women by amending Section 354 of the IPC,

the incidence of crime against women has come down there. We hope that

following the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, the rise in

incidents of poaching will also come down in Assam, " Hussain said.

 

 

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