Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the poaching of a sub-adult wild boar in the Barahi forest range of Pilibhit, with two of the accused sustaining injuries during a police encounter, officials confirmed on Saturday.
Arrests and Encounter Details
Police reported that two of the accused were arrested following an encounter with a Madhotanda police team, during which they suffered bullet wounds below the knees. The remaining three suspects were apprehended while attempting to escape through the forest.
The poaching incident occurred around 11 p.m. on April 15. When a forest team cordoned off the area, the accused fled, leaving behind the carcass of the wild boar and their motorcycle. They allegedly opened fire on the team before escaping.
Legal Proceedings
Based on a complaint lodged by the forest department, an FIR was registered on April 17 against Harjinder Singh (28) and Baljeet Singh (20), along with unidentified individuals. All are residents of Raghavpuri village, located near the Indo-Nepal border.
The injured accused have been identified as Amarjeet Singh (32) and Harpal Singh alias Jaspal (24). The other arrested individuals include Mukhtiyar Singh (30), Baljeet Singh (20), and Satnam Singh (72). Notably, Harjinder Singh, who was previously injured in an encounter on April 21, has also been taken into custody.
Recovery of Weapons
Superintendent of Police Sukirti Madhav stated that a firearm used in the poaching was recovered, along with a country-made .315 bore pistol, a cartridge shell, and two live cartridges. “The accused opened fire on the team and were injured in retaliatory firing. A fresh FIR has been registered in connection with the encounter,” he said.
Political Controversy
Jagdev Singh Jagga, the district president of the Samajwadi Party, questioned the police version of events, referencing recent remarks by the Allahabad High Court regarding encounter practices. He also expressed doubts about how the accused were found in the same forest area despite the earlier incident.
Jagga alleged that the encounters were based on “manipulated facts” and stated that he would raise the matter with party leadership.
