Official suspended in Nirmal district for helping tiger poacher

A deputy forest range officer in Nirmal district has been suspended for allegedly not initiating action against a tiger poacher, who had also killed a Nilgai (Asian antelope), officials said Wednesday. Mohd Hafezzuddin, in-charge of Pembi Forest Range, was Tuesday suspended for allegedly suppressing the fact and not booking a case against the poacher G Prakash and others, who were involved in the killing of a Nilgai, they said. Disciplinary action is also being initiated against two other forest officials--a beat officer and a section officer.

The Forest department was also in the process of registering criminal cases against the accused in this connection, they said. Kaghaznagar Forest Divisional Officer Rajaramana Reddy said Prakash had killed the Nilgai on December 31. Hafezzuddin being aware of it did not arrest the poachers, the officer said. He did not register a case and also did not inform the forest department as he had allegedly taken a bribe of Rs 50,000 from the poachers, Reddy said. Hafezzuddin had seized 10 kg meat of the animal and stored it, he said. According to another forest official, Prakash is also an accused in connection with the seizure of tiger skin at Ichoda in Adilabad district on January 5. The tiger had died due to electrocution in Pembi Forest Range of Kawal Tiger Reserve in November 2018. Five people, including Prakash, were arrested in the case, the official added.

(With inputs from agencies.)