In a joint operation, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) officials, with the help of Criminal Investigation Department sleuths, arrested a group of six people, including a constable with the Fire Services Department of Andhra Pradesh, who were trying to sell spotted deer skins on Wednesday.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of WCCB officials, led by Pradeep T.P., approached the gang late on Tuesday posing as clients and agreed to buy a deer skin and antlers. Not realising that the buyers were officials working under cover, the gang told them to come to a spot near Srinivasapur in Kolar district on Wednesday morning with the money.
“We caught them red-handed when they gave us the skin and antlers in exchange for cash. To their shock, the officials found that the prime accused was S. Chinna Babu, 29, a constable attached to the Fire Services Department at Pileru, Andhra Pradesh.
Another accused Manjunath, 32, from Kolar was mediating between Chinna Babu and the buyers. The other arrested were S. Balu, 30, from Punganur; Raju, 24, from Rayalapuadu; Zakir Hussain, 27, the driver, and Ameer Jan, 58, from Srinivasapur.
“They said they had bought three deer skins and antlers from their contact at Rayalapadu and were trying to sell them for a commission,” said an official, and added that they believe the gang was part of a bigger racket where animals are killed for their pelt.
This is the second incident this year where a government servant has been caught involved in animal skin/tusk/antler trade. In February, WCCB officials arrested a forest watcher of the Range Forest Office, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, while he was allegedly trying to sell an elephant tusk. The Malur forest sleuths and wildlife officials arrested the forest watcher, Mehboob Basha, who had allegedly stolen the tusk from the department’s strong room two years ago.
