SHILLONG: The state forest officials have recovered deer meat and weapons from poachers in Ri Bhoi district.
In a statement, Divisional Forest Officer, East Khasi Hills, Anu P James, said that on Saturday morning, while on a routine patrol in Nalahati area of the Nongkhyllem Reserve Forest in Ri Bhoi, the patrol team of the audit point beat of the Nongpoh Range under the Khasi Hills Wildlife Division led by R Ch Pdang, Forester-I, encountered four persons camping inside the forest. But they fled away leaving behind freshly chopped body parts including head, limbs and raw meat of an almost full-grown male sambar deer and carcass of a freshly-killed civet cat.
Inspite of a long chase by the patrol party, the poachers fled taking advantage of the terrain and thick vegetation. Two unlicensed country-made single barrel muzzle loading (SBML) guns, a bottle full of gun powder, two khukuris and four torch lights were recovered. Besides, personal belongings of the poachers including few clothes, cooking utensils and rice among others were also recovered.
The carcass and other materials recovered from the site have been seized by the patrol party. The same have been produced before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ri Bhoi.
The court ordered the disposal of the carcass.
An FIR under relevant sections of the Arms Act, 1959 is also being filed with Nongpoh Police Station against the poachers for possession of illegal arms.
The identity of the poachers is yet to be ascertained.
The sambhar deer is the largest among the four species of deer found in Meghalaya. Hunting of the animal is prohibited under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and attracts punishment of up to 3 years in jail and fine up to Rs 25,000.
The civet cat plays an important ecological role as a seed disperser. It is part of several folklores. Hunting of the civet cat attracts even higher punishment of up to seven years in jail and fine of Rs 10,000.