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The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Kerala to seek amnesty scheme for declaring wildlife trophy
Kerala would approach the Union government to provide another chance for people to declare wild animal articles and trophy in their custody. The last opportunity fixed by the Union government for individuals to declare the wildlife trophy in their possession had expired on October 18, 2003. Section 40 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 mandates that 'every person having the control, custody or possession of any animal article, trophy or uncured trophy of captive animals specified in Schedule I shall declare to the Chief Wildlife Warden or the Authorised Officer within thirty days from the commencement of the Act.' There have been several instances in the State where the legal heirs of people with valid ownership certificates of wild trophy could not get them declared in their names. Several of them have approached the department seeking one more opportunity for the declaration of such items, according to the State Forest department. On conviction of the offence related to any animal specified in Schedule I or meat of any such animal or animal article, trophy or uncured trophy derived from such animal, the convict shall be awarded a jail term from three to seven years and a fine not less than ₹25,000. Only those wildlife trophy inherited by the legal heirs of people with a valid ownership license issued by the Forest department will be eligible for the amnesty scheme, sources indicated. The State Board for Wildlife will consider the proposal next week. The power to provide the amnesty vests with the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The State board may request the Central government to take suitable action on the matter in real and genuine cases, sources said. The issue of illegal possession of wildlife trophy had hit the headlines recently with the State Forest department taking popular rapper Vedan into custody after it was alleged that he wore a pendant made out of a tiger tooth in a chain. Actor Mohanlal is fighting legal cases in the State after being booked for alleged illegal possession of two pairs of ivory. The alleged illegal possession surfaced following a raid by the Income Tax department at the Kochi residence of the actor. An appeal filed by the actor against the order of a trial court rejecting his discharge petition in the case is pending before the Kerala High Court. Petitions challenging the reported inaction of the Forest department to book the actor for the alleged possession of 13 ivory idols and granting of owner certificate to the two sets of ivory are also pending before the High Court.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Class 10 student dies of electrocution, triggers political row in poll-bound Nilambur
A teenager died of electrocution from an illegal wild boar trap at Vazhikadavu here, triggering widespread protests and a political row in bypoll-bound Nilambur. Jithu, a Class 10 student, and three of his friends came into contact with a live wire from an electric fence set up illegally on private land to trap wild boars on Saturday, police said. Though locals rushed them to hospital, Jithu was declared brought dead. Two others were critically injured. The death of the boy has intensified political tensions ahead of the crucial June 19 assembly bypoll in Nilambur. The opposition UDF alleged the boy's death was a "government-sponsored murder," blaming administrative inaction against such illegal traps. State Forest Minister A K Saseendran denied the allegations on Sunday, calling it a "political conspiracy" ahead of the bypoll. The death sparked protests on Saturday night by Congress and IUML workers, who blocked roads and marched to the local police station, clashing with police. BJP workers also staged separate protests, accusing the government of negligence. UDF candidate in Nilambur bypoll Aryadan Shoukath and LDF nominee M Swaraj visited the hospital last night where the teenager's body was kept. Addressing reporters here, Shoukath said the incident was a "state-sponsored murder". He alleged that such illegal electric traps were laid with the knowledge of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and so the government could not evade from its responsibility. Swaraj also demanded a comprehensive probe into the incident. Reacting to the incident, Minister Saseendran said there is a deliberate attempt to turn the sentiments of locals against the government and the forest department in the run-up to the bypoll. He added that a comprehensive probe is underway. Terming the incident as "tragic and painful", the minister said a teenager has lost his life and the condition of two others is serious. "The incident happened in a private property. But the owner says that he has not errectd any such illegal fencing there. Local people also said that there was no such fencing till last evening. KSEB officials confirmed that they were unaware about it," he explained. The wildlife department has also not been using electric fencing for long. "So, we cannot rule out the possibility of a political conspiracy behind the incident. Direction has been given given to carry out a comprehensive probe," he said. He wondered how a protest march was organised by the UDF in Malappuram over the incident much before the locals came to know about it last night. He said two people were taken into custody by the police in this regard and their interrogation is going on. Meanwhile, police said a case has been registered into the incident under BNS 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).
