18 January,2011 12:08 PM IST | | Shashank Shekhar
Wildlife activist rolls camera while villagers beat animal to death
Click here to view videou00a0
Yet another leopard had been killed by a violent mob in the NCR region last week. But unlike in the previous occasions, where not a single person had been convicted, this time there is actually a chance that the guilty might be punished. Photographs and a video shot by animal activist Naresh Kadyan of the gory incident in Faridabad's Kheri Gujaran can help nail the culprits.
Gruesomeu00a0 End: Locals carrying sticks gather around the body of the
wild cat which was seen on the village outskirts Pic/Mid Day
In last one year, around six leopards have been killed in the NCR region and so far no one has been convicted in any case. So much so, there are only four leopards left in the region. But this time, post a lot of pressure from the animal activists, police are analysing the photograph and video shot by Kadyan of People for Animals Haryana at the time when the mob brutally killed the leopard. According to the activist the leopard could be easily rescued but rage of locals went beyond control.
Police have registered a case but no arrests have been made yet. "We will soon take action against those who have killed the animal. We have the video footage and will identify those who are behind this," a senior police officer said.
A case of apathy
The activist claims that apathy on the part of the police and wildlife officers has raised serious concern about survival of leopards. "We could have saved the animal that day as we were ready with a cage and tranquiliser but neither the police nor the wildlife officer tried to save the leopard," said Kadyan who was present at the spot and shot the video.
The leopard was spotted on a tree on the outskirts of the village at around 1.30pm. By the time the news spread, the deputy commissioner and senior police officials along with district forest officials had reached the spot.
Belchand Sagar, wildlife inspector, Faridabad said: "We don't even have proper equipment. Our equipment is lying in Gurgaon." However, the repeated incidents of killing have barely been able to move the officials concerned to take action against the killers or make arrangements so that wild animals do not stray into areas inhabited by humans in search of food or water. Leopards are protected and are scheduled I animal under the Wildlife Act.
| Advisory |
| Following the killing of a leopard by villagers in Haryana's Faridabad district last week, the state's forest department issued an advisory to people to not kill wild animals protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. |
| No escape allowed |
| The scared animal stepped down from the tree and tried to escape to the nearby forests but was surrounded by the mob and lynched with lathis and rods without provocation, while the officials kept mum. The helpless animal was chased for several hours as the police and the rescue teams looked on. |
