Six men were arrested in connection with hunting a spotted deer in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband Forest Division and sent to jail on 15 days judicial remand.
The action was taken after Forest Minister Mohd. Akbar asked his officials to increase their vigil and stop incidents of wild animal poaching and illegal tree felling in forests across the state, an official statement said on Wednesday.
On July 18, an adult stag was reported killed in the Panduka forest circle of Gariaband Forest Division. A complaint was lodged under the Forest Act.
Forest Department officials learnt that six men -- Bhawani Shankar, Aatma Ram Diwan, Lal Singh Diwan, Ghanshyam Gond, Tikesh Gond and Bhagwat Gond -- were involved in the crime, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Arun Pandey said.
Following the tip, under the supervision of District Forest Officer Gariaband Mayank Agarwal, a team raided village Gaydabari, Pandey said. The team arrested all the accused.
On the basis of information provided by them, the Forest Department team recovered the skin of a male spotted deer from the crime spot. Its horn and head were excavated from the garden of Ram Diwan, the officer was quoted as saying.
All six men were sent to jail on 15 days judicial remand, Pandey said.