Nagpur: In a breakthrough, Paoni officials led by range forest officer (RFO) Pandurang Pakhale, under the unified control of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), Maharashtra, dramatically arrested tiger poacher Devidas Kumre, who was absconding for last 11 months.
Kumre (41), a resident of Usripar village on the fringes of Pench, had been arrested on June 26, 2017, with 150 pieces of tiger bones and 14 nails. He was among 17 nabbed for their involvement in removing tiger body parts after poisoning them.
After getting bail from a Ramtek court, Kumre had been influenced by local leaders to register a FIR on September 11, 2017, against investigating RFOs Pakhale and Nilesh Gawande at Deolapar police station.
The forest department had challenged the FIR, which had non-bailable offences against both RFOs. The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court had quashed the FIR and restricted the police from arresting the forest officials. Since then Kumre had been absconding.
Kumre is the third accused arrested, with Bhimrao Parteti and Vijay Gedam arrested on March 13 and April 2, 2018, respectively.
Pench field director Ravikiran Govekar confirmed the arrest. He said Pakhale was accompanied by STPF guards Maroti Mundhe and Tushar Dhote. “The accused will be produced before the Ramtek court on Friday,” he added.
