Manipur Forest and Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar appealed to the people of the State to help protect wildlife and environment in Manipur, a Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) Press statement said.
Briefing reporters at his official chamber in Imphal on Friday, Minister Shyamkumar, who also holds the Horticulture and Soil Conservation portfolio apart from Urban Development, said that the report of one person allegedly poisoning and killing migratory birds is “condemnable and unfortunate”. The person has since been arrested.
The minister also appealed to contribute in the effort to save the wildlife and protect the environment in the State. Informing about the arrested person, the Forest and Environment Minister said the person, if found guilty, can be convicted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for which he can be imprisoned for a term which can extend up to three years or with fine which may extend to Rs 25,000 or with both.
Stating that the said person will be produced before the court for his offence, he remarked that the State Government is working hard and is “committed to wildlife and environmental conservation”. Sources said on Friday, a team from Bishnupur Police Station led by Sub-Inspector Y Motilal Singh arrested one individual identified as Khundrakpam Nabachandra Singh (52) for allegedly poisoning and killing migratory birds at Kwasiphai Maning Leikai in Bishnupur district.
It is reported that around 20-30 birds, mostly mynas and doves, died due to poisoning by insecticides anucron, super killer and novan among others. The arrested person said he used the insecticides to protect American Peas cultivated in his paddy field. The police team also found dead birds hanging on sticks which were used to scare the other birds away, the source added.