Hyderabad: Police and Forest Department officials held nine persons in a blackbuck hunting case after allegedly intercepting blackbuck meat being transported towards Hyderabad.
Shadnagar police, the Special Operations Team (SOT) Shadnagar and Forest Department personnel stopped the group near Raikal Toll Plaza. The teams detected the case within 24 hours under the supervision of Future City police commissioner Dr. Tarun Joshi, IPS.
During the operation, officials recovered around 13 kg of blackbuck meat. They also seized a .315 rifle fitted with a telescopic sight and silencer and 19 rounds of ammunition.
The teams additionally seized two vehicles, eight smartphones, a camera and two torch lights. They also recovered ₹28,590 in cash.
A preliminary enquiry found that the group had allegedly travelled to the Marikal forest area near Narayanpet. According to the enquiry, the group allegedly hunted a blackbuck there and then transported its meat towards Hyderabad.
Blackbuck hunting case led to Wildlife Act charges
Officials identified the accused as M.D. Haji Uddin, 36, of Edi Bazar, Hyderabad; Meer Mukhtar Ali, 37, of Edi Bazar, Hyderabad; and M.D. Tajamul, 37, of Charminar, Hyderabad.
The other accused were Meer Raza Ali Khan, 39, of Ramachandrapuram, Sangareddy; Khurram Khan, 35, of Ramachandrapuram, Sangareddy; and Syed Salman Ali, 30, of Moghalpura, Hyderabad.
The remaining three were M.D. Afroz Khan, 36, of Shastripuram, Rajendranagar; M.D. Abdul Aziz, 33, of Charminar, Hyderabad; and M.D. Riyaz, 28, of Utkoor, Mahabubnagar.
Police registered POR No. 15 in the blackbuck hunting case. They invoked Sections 9, 39, 50, 51 and 57 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Section 30 of the Arms Act.
Shadnagar DCP C. Sirisha Raghavendra appreciated the coordinated work of the Shadnagar police, SOT and Forest Department teams. Ranga Reddy District Forest Officer Shiv Aasheesh Singh, IFS, also took part in the operation.
The recovery included the alleged wildlife meat, firearm, ammunition and other articles found during the interception. Officials continued the case proceedings after the seizure.
The Future City police and Forest Department urged people to report information about illegal hunting, transportation or sale of wildlife meat.
The Forest Department listed 1800-425-5364 and 040-23231440 as helpline numbers for reporting such information.
The blackbuck hunting case followed the alleged hunting of a blackbuck in the Marikal forest area and the subsequent transportation of its meat towards Hyderabad. Police registered the case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Arms Act.