Fw: (IN) 20 get three years imprisonment for hunting Asiatic lions

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--- On Thu, 23/10/08, Ashok Kumar <ashok wrote:

 

        Ashok Kumar <ashok

        20 get three years imprisonment for hunting Asiatic lions

        " Ashok Kumar " <wildhaathi

        Thursday, 23 October, 2008, 6:45 PM

 

20 get three years imprisonment for hunting Asiatic lions

 

Junagadh (Gujarat), October 23, 2008: In an unprecedented case in the judicial

history of wildlife crime in India, 20 persons were sentenced to three years

imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 each, by the Court of PK

Makuuana, I class magistrate, Junagadh in Gujarat today.

 

JM Sakanpara, public prosecutor, said, " The accused were arrested for poaching

six Asiatic lions from Gir and illegal possession of wildlife articles. Two lion

claws were recovered from the main accused Kuntar Singh and Nanaka Singh during

their arrest in April last year.. The hunting was reportedly carried out on

March 3 and March 29 last year. They had disclosed trade in body parts as the

motive for hunting. "

 

Keshav Kumar, IGP, who led the investigations, said, " This is the

first known case in India in which the lions were hunted for trade. "

 

The remaining culprits were subsequently arrested based on the information

provided by Kuntar and Nanaka. The accused remained in judicial custody

throughout the trial, following denial of their bail plea by the High Court.

 

Saurabh Sharma, advocate of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) who provided legal

assistance to the prosecution said, " This is a first of a kind case in which so

many people have been convicted at a time in a wildlife case. Even the duration

of the trial was relatively expeditious for a wildlife case. Within 18 months of

the crime, the accused have been brought to justice. "

 

Ashok Kumar, Vice-chairman, said, " This is a historic moment for all wildlife

conservationists. We congratulate the authorities on their achievement. "

 

Gir Forest is the only area where the 'critically endangered' Asiatic lion

(Panthera leo persica) are still found. A

survey conducted in 2005 had estimated the presence of 359 lions. They are

threatened by poaching for bones, used in Traditional s, and

claws, used as amulets. Death from electrocution and from being trapped in open

wells is also common.

 

Source:

http://www.wildlifetrustofindia.org/current-news/081023_20_get_three_years_impri\

sonment_for_hunting_lions.html

 

 

Ashok Kumar

Wildlife Trust of India

http://www.wildlifetrustofindia.org/

 

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