Unhappy with veg food, migrant labourers in Jaisalmer poach birds for dinner

Ajay Singh & Vimal Bhatia | TNN | Updated: Apr 21, 2020, 09:17 IST

Labourers manhandled teachers who criticised their action

JAIPUR/JAISALMER: Unhappy with vegetarian food, five migrant labourers staying in a quarantine centre in Nokha village of Jaisalmer district hunted grey francolin (bird), which is covered under Schedule III of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The labourers allegedly manhandled the teachers posted at the centre who criticized their action and stopped them from cooking the meat. Police reached the spot after the clash and arrested five labourers who hailed from Madhya Pradesh. Police has registered a case under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) and assault to deter public servant from discharge of duty.
In the complaint, teacher Sushil Kumar said after he opposed killing of birds, the labourers attacked and hit him with stones and sticks.
SP Kiran Kang said, “Many labourers of Madhya Pradesh are staying in Shakti Nagar School under Nokh police station area, of which five hunted partridges. In-charge of the centre Sushil Kumar Bishnoi was also attacked by these labourers. We have started the investigation after lodging a complaint.”
Sources claimed that the labourers were bored of eating food served by the administration and wanted to eat non-vegetarian food.
Green activist Radheyshaym Pemani said the migrant labourers of other states who have been kept at various schools and other shelter homes in Jaisalmer district are killing wildlife. Villagers from nearby areas are continuously informing about their activity. “Killing grey francolin is covered under Schedule III of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and is punishable with an imprisonment of six months or fine of Rs 25,000 or both. As these birds cannot take immediate flight, hunting them using net or sticks is easy,” Pemani said.