Digboi: An Arunachal Pradesh police (IRBN) constable was arrested for his alleged involvement in poaching in Eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district.
A team of forest officials from the Jagun Forest Range, under the Digboi Division arrested the 2nd IRBN constable Wangdem Siksa from Tinkupani reserve forest in Tinsukia district on Sunday.
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The apprehended IRBN constable Wangdem Siksa, hails from Lazu’s Upper Kolam village in Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh.
Despite being a member of the security forces, Siksa, who was attached to the Police Department at Jairampur in Changlang district, was allegedly involved in illegal wildlife hunting activities.
The arrest was triggered by the sound of a gunshot emanating from the nearby border forest area during the night.
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Acting swiftly, the forest team launched an immediate operation, which led to the discovery of a deceased barking deer and the seizure of two sophisticated firearms used in the heinous act.
“This incident underscores the alarming extent to which poaching has infiltrated even the ranks of law enforcement,” said Ranjith Ram, the DFO of Digboi Division.
“We remain committed to combating this menace and bringing perpetrators to justice, regardless of their position or affiliation,” he said.
When contacted, a senior official from the 2nd IRBN Headquarters in Diyun revealed that the Arunachal Pradesh authorities had not yet been formally notified about the arrest.
Expressing concerns about potential procedural lapses on the part of the counterpart forest department, the official stated that the IRBN would initiate an inquiry into the matter upon receiving official communication.
While the exact nature of the firearms used in the poaching incident remains under investigation, the official clarified that they were not government-issued weapons.
Based on the evidence gathered, a case has been registered against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, with charges including hunting, possession of illegal firearms, and causing wildlife injury or death.