Madhya Pradesh: Unarmed forest guard shot dead by poachers in Gwalior

BHOPAL: The craving for game meat in Covid-19 lockdown took a lethal turn in Madhya Pradesh on Monday when poachers shot dead an unarmed forest guard, who tried to stop them from killing nilgai in Gwalior district .


And about 100km away, in Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary, hoodlums blew up a baby crocodile while fish-bombing in River Betwa.

The slain forest guard was identified as 24-year-old Dipu Rana. He and three others were patrolling Mohna forest area around 9am to check out information of illegal bamboo felling.

They walked into an ambush laid by poachers for nilgai but before they could take any action, the poachers opened fire.

“Our guard was shot unprovoked. He was hit in the heart and died instantly. We have identified the shooter and are trying to arrest him,” said Gwalior DFO Abhinav Pallav, adding that a murder case has been registered.

The suspect belongs to a traditional hunting tribe, Mongia, which settled in Rampur area, said the officer, adding number of poachers involved is not clear yet. The DFO suspects a countrymade rifle was used.

Foresters: Spike in poaching due to closure of meat shops

Reports of poaching have come in from different parts of the state over the past month, sources say.

A crocodile was blown up in Betwa River under Orcha Wildlife sanctuary by those involved in illegal fishing. ‘Fish bombing’ – in which dynamite is used to kill or stun fish -- is becoming alarmingly popular in the region, say officials. A crocodile was blown to pieces recently. “I have ordered an inquiry. It was a baby crocodile,” said R P Rai, chief conservator of forest (CCF) Chhatarpur.

Taking advantage of the lockdown, hunters are sneaking into protected areas. It’s alleged that the toll on the wild includes blackbuck , nilgai, spotted deer, chinkara , wild boar, wild hare and even peacocks and other protected birds.

On April 24, four people were arrested by forest officials in Gwalior for poaching a nilgai, peacock and chinkara. Accused Sahid Khan, Amir Khan, Arif Khan and Basir Khan -- residents of Gwalior --were arrested with a muzzleloading gun, raw meat and remains of other wild animals killed by them over the last four weeks, said officials. A chinkara calf was also rescued.

While experts say poaching has rebounded with authorities shifting their focus to enforcing coronavirus lockdown measures exploiting reduced patrols, forest officials blame closure of meat shops.

“Mutton supply has stopped completely. Fish too has become scarce everywhere and there are people from some primitive tribes who cannot resist their craving for meat,” said Rajesh Srivastava, chief wildlife warden of MP, adding: “We have two recent complaints, including one near Bhopal where a nilgai was poached. All those involved have been arrested,” said the officer. In Kuno-Palpur sanctuary, a cheetal was poached, said Srivastava.