Acting on the complaint filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India along with viral video evidence on social media, Jind Forest and Wildlife Department registered a preliminary offence report (POR) against a man who allegedly killed a monitor lizard and hung the body on a rope.
The Department Inspector Manveer Khatkar told The Pioneer on Tuesday that the accused has been identified as Chand Ram, a resident of Village Jheel, Narwana. He admitted his offence and was produced before the magistrate, later released on bail by the court. The next hearing has been fixed in the Environment Court in March, 2023, he added.
He further said that the team members recovered video footage from the accused, which was later verified. Monitor lizards are protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972. The POR was registered under sections 9, 39, 48, 51, 52 and 55 of the WWPA, 1972.
In a released statement, PETA India Cruelty Response Coordinator Shilpa Chaudhary said, “Despite the protection conferred by our laws, this monitor lizard was made to endure terror and death. We thank the forest and wildlife department for its swift action letting abusers know cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.”
She said that research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals are often repeat offenders who move on to hurting other animals, including humans. Communities now recognise that the abuse of any living, feeling being is unacceptable and endangers everyone.
Chaudhary said that monitor lizards eat insects and other small animals and are afraid of humans. They can usually be removed from an area simply by making a path. PETA India advises calling the forest department should anyone need more help and come across this species, she added.