Forest, wildlife offences increasing in State

Bengaluru tops major cities in cases of violation of Forest Act and Wildlife Protection Act: NCRB data

According to Venkatasubbaiah, Additional PCCF (Vigilance), while relatively minor crimes such as trespassing are increasing, major crimes such as sandalwood or red sanders smuggling are reducing. FILE PHOTO

Lush forests and steady animal numbers in the State seem to also have led to a trend of increasing criminal cases of forest and wildlife violations.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which recently released its Crime in India compendium for 2014, the number of cases booked under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 has increased to 165 in Karnataka. This is 65 per cent since 2012. With a further 84 cases under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the State stands third in the country in terms of number of violations of both the Acts — a jump from the sixth position occupied in the NCRB data for 2013.

Bengaluru, however, earns itself the ignominious top spot under both the Acts among major cities.

The data shows that 393 people (of which, incidentally, only one was woman) were arrested under the two Acts in the State. In its 2013 analysis, the NCRB had shown that nearly a quarter of the cases did not reach the charge-sheet phase, while conviction remained a paltry 17 per cent.

The NCRB does not reveal the entire picture, as it considers cases booked only under the two Acts while numerous other State and Central laws are available at the disposal of the police and Forest squads.

It, however, reveals a trend of increasing forest offences being detected. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau had noted Bengaluru as having a point for illicit animal trade and high domestic consumption of ivory and other animal products — a fact that seems to be confirmed by the recovery of at least six elephant tusks in separate instances in the city this year alone.

Venkatasubbaiah, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Vigilance), said the increase in offences detected was not a matter of concern as the distribution and type of case would reveal a different picture. “There is increased awareness among the police. Even forest trespassing cases are now booked under these Acts. We find that major crimes such as sandalwood or red sanders smuggling are reducing, while relatively minor crimes such as trespassing are increasing,” he said.