TL-FOREST-LD SUSPENSION

2 forest officials arrested

(Eds; adding details)

Hyderabad, Jan 9 (PTI): Two forest officials were arrested

Wednesday in connection with poaching of a Nilgai (Asian

antelope) in Kawal Tiger reserve, forest department officials

said.

A Deputy Forest Range Officer in Nirmal district, who

was suspended for allegedly not initiating action against a

tiger poacher, who had also killed a Nilgai, had been on the

run, they said.

Forest Section officer M A Rasheed and Forest Beat

officer Vasanth were arrested in Pembi Forest range in Nirmal

district in connection with alleged "involvement in Nilgai

poaching case and connivance" with local poachers in Pembi,

they said.

Mohd Hafezzuddin, in-charge of Pembi Forest Range, was

Tuesday suspended for allegedly suppressing the fact and not

booking case against the poachers G Prakash and others, who

were involved in the killing of a Nilgai, they said.

"Hafezzudin is still absconding and evading arrest. The

search is on" (to nab him), they said.

The arrest of the forest officialswas based on a

detailed enquiry conductedinto the irregularities and

complaintby the forest department.

These arrests would set an example and act as a deterrent

in forest and wildlife offences in future, they added.

According to Kaghaznagar Forest Divisional Officer

Rajaramana Reddy Prakash had killed the Nilgai on December 31.

Hafezzuddin being aware of it, did not arrest the

poachers or booked a case and neither intimated the matter to

the Forest Department as he had allegedly taken a bribe of Rs

50,000 from the poachers, officials said.

Hafezzuddin seized 10 kg meat of the wild animal and

stored it in the forest quarters, he said.

Prakash was also an accused in connection with the

seizure of tiger skin at Ichoda in Adilabad district on

January 5, another Forest Department official said, adding the

male tiger had died of electrocution in Pembi Forest Range of

Kawal Tiger Reserve in November 2018

Five persons, including Prakash, were arrested in this

connection, they said.