Nagpur youths kill snake, make it WhatsApp status; held
Amravati Forest officials have now arrested Rahul Ramesh Rewatkar and Praveen More from Wadegaon in Narkhed.
Nagpur: Two youngsters killed a rat snake (dhaman) and for that Narkhed range forest officials have arrested these 2 youngsters, assuming it to be a king cobra, and featured the picture of the dead reptile – which subsequently went viral on social media – on their WhatsApp status.
Amravati Forest officials have now arrested Pravin More and Rahul Ramesh Rewatkar from Wadegaon in Narkhed. Both these accused had badly killed the snake in its natural habitat in the farm owned by Girish Puranik in Vadegaon, Based on a complaint by volunteers of Wildlife Awareness Research and Rescue Welfare Society (WAR).
Rat snakes have been listed under Schedule II (Part II) of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972. And reptile hunting also refers to different classes of poaching. A case has been registered against both these boys under Wildlife Protection Act.
Forest Department’s plan to confiscate the tractor
According to WAR President Nilesh Kanchanpure, A whistleblower from Narkhed had contacted Mojri’s snake friend (Sarpamitra) Shubham Vighe, And then later also told about killing the snake badly and putting the accused’s WhatsApp status. And with this the whistleblower had earlier confronted the accused, Then in response to which Rewatkar also challenged him to definitely contact the authorities to take action against him.
Then afterwards, Shubham Vighe immediately contacted Abhijit Dani, a war volunteer from Amaravati, Who had also given a message to Kanchanpure, Those who in return had called the helpline of the Forest Department in 1926. Kanchanpure has said that he had been given the number of Narkhed Forester RM Warhade. Who told him to come to Narkhed to file a complaint in writing. After this, he had also contacted the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bharat Singh Hada, Nagpur. Who helped the needy.
Assistant Conservator of Forests PD Palve has also confirmed that both the accused have been booked under Wildlife Protection Act. Palwe has said that he had badly killed the snake while plowing the field with a tractor. Range One officer DS Bagde is also investigating this entire matter and is planning to confiscate the tractor used in the crime.
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