Assam: Three accused in killing of egrets arrested at Tangla

 GUWAHATI: Three accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody for destroying egret colonies in Tangla, Assam.

The action was taken followed by a submission of complaint case by Inquiry Officer cum DFO, Dhansiri Forest Division, Naba Kumar Bordoloi.

The three accused  Santana Das, CEO, Udalguri Town and Country Planning and EO, Tangla Municipal Board, Sadanda Sahari, JE, Tangla Municipal Board and Milton Sangma, driver booked under Section 55 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 were produced at the CJM Court, Udalguri and sent to judicial custody.

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Additional PCCF Wildlife and Chief Wildlife Warden, MK Yadava had appointed Bordoloi as Inquiry Officer under the provision of Section 50(8) of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 for investigating into the death of species of birds scheduled under the said Act on June 25.

Yadava asked the Inquiry Officer to ensure filing of a complaint case against the culprits in appropriate court of law under Section 55 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on completion of investigation.

Yadava asked Bordoloi to submit his investigation report as per law within seven days.

The local administration issued a notice on June 8 to a group of residents of the area stating that the bamboo grove needs to chopped down as it may result in the spread of COVID-19 infection.

As the residents didn’t take any action, the Municipality Board chopped down the trees on Thursday which destroyed the nestlings.

Talking to InsideNE, Assistant professor of Wildlife sciences, Don Bosco University, Nilutpal Mahanta, said that the act is a sheer violation of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 under Article 9.

“Also they have misled people by stating that bird excreta can lead to the spread of COVID-19 without any scientific proof”, he added.

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