File likely to be closed for want of evidences

File related to the reports sought on DGP DK Pandey reportedly posing with a live snake, was said to have been closed as proper evidences, in the form of snake or the snake charmer, were not be located when forest officials were sent there to nab them.

According to the highly placed sources in the Forest Department, such incidents take place due to the lack of awareness of the Wild Life Protection Act, and hence a decision has been taken to launch intensive awareness drive among the people to check such incidents in future.

The matter was highlighted when a photograph of DGP DK Pandey was published in a local newspaper garlanding a snake around his neck following which Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild Life) Lal Ratnakar Singh ordered the Forest Officials to get all information about the time and location of the photograph taken.

As per Section 9 of Wild Life Protection Act, anybody possessing any of the wild life animals without permission of the of Forest Department, and if found doing so, he will be punished for a period of 3 years along with a fine decided by a court of law.

“If the snake charmer would have been caught we would have taken action in this regard, but since the prime evidence itself is not available, we cannot take any action on the basis of a photograph published in the newspaper,” said a senior forest official in the State Government, requesting anonymity. It appears that the incident did not take place intentionally as the snake charmer came and deliberately put the snake around the DGPs neck in greed of some money without recognising who he was, he added.

The Official further added that at least two persons have been arrested so far in the past on similar grounds. “Meanwhile, taking a strong note of the incident, a decision has been taken to launch intensive awareness drive by through print and electronic media and direct public contact through street plays and distributing pamphlets both in the urban and rural areas as even the educated people do not have proper awareness in this regard,” said the official.

When asked about the provisions for the protection of animals in the Act, the official said that there were provisions under schedule I, II, III, IV for the protection of prohibited animals under the Wild Life Protection Act and action is also taken at the Divisional level from time to time through raids in the local rural markets as and when they receive information in this regard.

“There also arises an issue of law and order when we go for raid after getting information as the snake charmer or the mahawat escape the place leaving the snake or the elephant unattended and they start wandering here and there creating a havoc among the people around,” said a district level Forest Official on conditions of anonymity. So, prior information is passed among them in order to create a sense of deterrence before conducting any such raid against them, he added.

The official, however, said that some of the serious offenders have definitely been sent to jail for violating Wild Life Protection Act, including a person having tusk in his possession.