A massive poaching racket in Meerut, was tracked down on Friday afternoon by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Forest Department. Retired Col., Devendra Bishnoi and his son Prashanth Bishnoi’s house was raided and are being investigated under the act of gunrunning and Wildlife Protection Act.
At 3:30 P.M., on Friday afternoon after a 17 hour raid at the Colonel’s house in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, the DRI, and Forest Department cracked down on a huge poaching and gun business. Nearly 117 kgs of blue bull meat, ivory, five deer skulls, horns of sambar, antlers of antelope and leopard and black buck hides were seized along with 40 unlicensed guns. Unaccounted cash of 1 crore rupees and 2 lakh cartridges were found at their residence as well.
Endangered animals’ remains recovered from a gang at IGI airport, trying to smuggle with weapons used in poaching @dna @AbhishekBhalla7 pic.twitter.com/ntqyFTFDJZ
— Anvit Srivastava (@anvitsDNA) April 30, 2017
DRI Delhi Zonal Unit busted a international syndicate of illegal arms traffickers and animal hunters from Delhi and Meerut pic.twitter.com/fsnUcCzo6V
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 30, 2017
Mukesh Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests said, “The meat of blue bull was seized from a refrigerator. A sample was taken and it will be sent to a laboratory for testing.”
The racket came to light when the DRI intercepted three people who were flying from Ljubljana to Delhi via Istanbul. The three were detained at the Delhi International airport trying to smuggle 25 lethal weapons which led them to the Bishnoi family.
Ironically, Bishnoi’s are considered as crusaders for the protection of animals and the environment. General Secretary Sunil Bishnoi said, “Either this Prashant Bishnoi is a fake name, or, if he is indeed a Bishnoi, it is a matter of shame. All of us condemn his act.” The Bishnoi community has assured that the family will be punished for bringing shame to their name.
Mukesh Kumar released another statement saying, “A case has been registered under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 against both Devendra Bishnoi and Prashant Bishnoi. Devendra has not been arrested so far because his role is still not clear and investigations will be done only after the son, who is still at large.”
