TURA: Two men, who had shot and killed an endangered wild sambar deer in the Nokrek national biosphere region, have been arrested and sent to prison on Tuesday.
The perpetrators, one of whom happened to be the son-in-law of the Nokma of Sakkalgre and the other a nephew, had been on the run since Saturday after killing the animal, the video of which went viral on social media. Citizens across Garo Hills had erupted in anger demanding stern punishment against the duo for killing the innocent creature, which for years was always found loitering outside the village of Baladinggre and never harmed by villagers.
Both poachers, Melbin and Apeal T Sangma, had fled their village after police and wildlife teams began searching for them. The carcass of the slain animal was confiscated by the wildlife department the same day.
However, with public out for their blood, the duo approached the wildlife officials and gave themselves up on Monday night.
“Both of them have been sent to judicial custody by the courts. We have also seized the weapons used by them in the killing”, informed Wildlife DFO, Arphius Ch Sangma.
It was revealed that the weapons used by the poachers, a single-barrel and a double-barrel shotgun, belonged to an uncle and one of the poacher’s father.
