One held, nine interrogated

SHILLONG: One person was arrested while nine others were picked up for questioning regarding the incident of a bear being tortured in Pynursla which went viral on social media.
A day after the circulation of the picture, the state government has warned that anyone hunting animals will be hunted down.
‘If you hunt the animal, the law will hunt you,’ said Forest and Environment Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday.
“After we got a report that one Asiatic black bear was killed, the forest department swung into action and arrested one individual on Tuesday,” he said.
Nine others were picked up for questioning on Wednesday.
“We will probe into the matter,’ Rymbui added.
Issuing a stringent warning to the poachers who abuse and torture animals besides hunting them down, Rymbui assured action against such people as they will have to undergo 7 years of imprisonment besides paying a fine of Rs 25,000.
Acknowledging that the forest department cannot reach out to every nook and corner, the Forest Minister urged villagers and citizens to refrain from poaching.
Nature had started reclaiming itself in Meghalaya with a barking deer spotted roaming near Mawkdok bridge in Sohra recently whereas the news of a deer being killed was shocking for the residents.
‘We cannot deny the fact that nature has started to reclaim itself but suddenly many are indulging in illegal poaching,’ he said. Rymbui said the state government is aware of it and last week two country made guns and body parts of deer were confiscated. He, however, informed that the poachers managed to escape.