Mumbai Crime: Dirt bikers who breached sanctuary area booked

The Forest Department has identified those caught racing inside Tungareshwar Sanctuary and has registered an FIR

Following mid-day's report on how a few wildlife lovers spotted bikers racing on the mud track inside Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Forest Department officials have arrested five riders. It also has come to light that the person whose bike registration number had gone viral on social media was not a part of this biking group.

"We arrested the five bikers —Firoz Khan, Sagar Ramgade, Zubin Patel, Amit Japani and Yogi Chhabaria — on February 14 and under the Indian Forest Act 1927 Sections 26 and 65 and under Sections 27/1 and Section 50 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. They were produced in court and released on conditional bail," Dilip Tonde, range forest officer from Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary said.

The report published on February 12, stated how the bikers were spotted racing on the mud track inside the sanctuary. Onlookers had also recorded a video of the bikers, which they handed over to a city-based NGO.

The person who recorded the video also took a screenshot of one of the bikes in which the vehicle's registration number was visible. The bike is registered in the name of Bhavesh Bangera. However, when the Forest Department officials called Bangera for questioning, it was revealed that he was not a part of a biking group.

Speaking to mid-day Bhavesh Bangera said, "I had gone with my friends but we were not a part of the bikers' group. We had recorded a few videos of our ride in my phone which the Forest officials saw. They recorded my statement and let me go."

Post the biking incident, the security inside the Tungareshwar wildlife sanctuary has been increased and the Forest Department has also increased patrolling to prevent further incidents.

Feb 11
Day the bikers were seen racing

14 February
Day the five bikers were arrested by the forest department

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