Boxing coach held, leopard skins seized
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Sunday Pioneer
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New Delhi
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6 May 2012
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A 22-year-old boxing coach from Himachal Pradesh has been arrested by the Delhi Police for poaching endangered species of animals.
Te arrest was made by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police late on Friday night from GT Karnal Road. Police have also recovered three leopard skins from his possession priced at more than `9 lakh.
Informing about the arrest and seizure of the skins, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ashok Chand said the accused was apprehended with three leopard skins tagged at more than `9 lakh in the international market. He said the arrest came on Friday after a tip off was received that a man, who deals with animal skins, would cross GT Karnal bypass. The senior cop said hence a trap was laid and subsequently, the accused was apprehended with leopard skin.
“The leopard skin which he was carrying was kept preserved carefully. Such skins fetch high price in the market. A case under relevant sections of the Wildlife Act has been registered against the accused, Meetu Singh, a State-level boxing player” the officer added.
It further stated that Singh was subjected to intensive interrogation during which he revealed that he and his associates had been involved in trapping leopards for their skin for five years. “He told us that he with his accomplices have been involved in trade for last five tears. The illegal business helped them earn a good amount of money as each leopard skin fetches around Rs 3 to Rs 4 lakh,” he said.
He said the operation to nab the culprit was led under the supervision of Additional DCP (Crime) Joy Tirkey. Explaining the modus operandi of the gang in detail, Tirkey said the accused used to hunt for leopards in the dense forests of Shivalik Range in Himachal Pradesh. “They first would spot the waterholes from where the animal would come frequently. Then they would lay a trap. They first put a trap with metal clamps adjoined with chains on the path taken by the animal. The trap was covered with leaves, vegetation, branches and shrubs. Once the leopard was caught, the poachers thrashed the animal to death,” he added.
The accused disclosed that his associates till date have hunted and killed nearly 15 leopards in similar fashion. The accused would sell leopard skins in Delhi, Shimla, Macleodganj and Dharamsala area of Himachal Pradesh. Tirkey added that Meetu Singh is a pawn in the large racket run by the poachers that specialise in trapping and killing leopards for their skin and fur. “Further investigation is on to find out the roots of the gang,” Tirkey said.
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