(IN): Man caught with live beetles in Ghoom

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Man

caught with live beetles in Ghoom

OUR CORRESPONDENT A beetle that was seized in Ghoom on Tuesday. Picture

by Suman Tamang

 

*Darjeeling, Sept. 16:* Forest officials today caught a resident of

Kalimpong subdivision while he was allegedly buying live beetles from an

" unidentified person " at a wayside eatery in Ghoom.

 

The foresters said they recovered 19 live beetles from Dilip Tamang, who

lives at Silary bustee in 20th Mile, 14km from Kalimpong town.

 

Tamang's arrest is the fourth such instance in the Darjeeling hills in just

over a decade, indicating that the area is slowly emerging as a centre of

illegal wildlife trade.

 

The most recent case involved renowned Czech entomologist Petr Svacha and

his compatriot Emil Kucera, who were found guilty of illegally collecting

insects from Singalila National Park. While Svacha was let off with a fine

of Rs 20,000, Kucera was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and fined Rs

60,000.

 

Tamang, who is in his 30s, had allegedly come to Darjeeling today to buy the

insects.

 

" We had information that some deal would take place at Ghoom today. We were

tracking an unidentified person who was supposed to sell the live beetles.

We also had information about Tamang and soon the two entered a small

wayside eatery along the Sukhia road, " said Bhuwan Giri, the range officer

of Senchel East.

 

Giri and two beat officers, Uttam Chandra Pradhan and Phurba Sherpa, along

with a few forest guards, swept into the eatery around 10am, but the man

supposed to be selling the beetles managed to flee.

 

" However, we caught Tamang with 19 live beetles in a plastic carry bag, "

said the range officer.

 

During interrogation, Tamang reportedly said he bought the beetles for Rs

3,000 a piece. " He said he was to sell these beetles again to one Bhupal

Thapa of Simkona, 3rd Mile (11km from Darjeeling town), " said Giri.

Dilip Tamang on his way to court. (Suman Tamang)

 

Tamang has been booked under Sections 9, 48A, 49, 49 B (to be read with

Section 2), 39, 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. His crime is

punishable under Section 51 of the act, which carries a sentence of three to

seven years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 10,000.

 

Tamang was produced before Darjeeling chief judicial magistrate U.K. Nandi,

who rejected his bail application. " The accused has been sent to 14 days of

judicial custody. The live beetles were displayed at the court and the

seizure list was submitted, " said assistant public prosecutor Govind

Chhetri.

 

The beetles will be sent to the Zoological Survey of India for

identification, Chhetri added.

 

In 1996, a Japanese national, Sunichi Kawamora, was caught with butterflies

and beetles in the hills. Kawamora pleaded guilty and was left off with a

fine. In 2005, about 200 beetles were recovered from Sarad Chhetri and Ram

Prasad Chhetri.

 

 

 

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