Uttarakhand: Case of burning a leopard alive in Pauri, 5 culprits including the then Pradhan sentenced to imprisonment
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The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate has pronounced sentence against the culprits in the case of burning alive a caged leopard in Pabau area of Pauri district of Uttarakhand. The court has sentenced five culprits, including the then village head, to one year’s imprisonment. Along with this, a fine of Rs 3,500 has also been imposed.
What was the matter?
On May 24, 2022, an angry mob set a caged leopard on fire alive in Saplodi village of Pabau block of Pauri district. In this case, Forest Inspector Satish Chandra of Buakhal section Nagdev Range had given a written complaint to the police. On which, on the orders of the SSP, the investigation of the case was handed over to SI Deepak Panwar of Pabau police post.
Forest Inspector Satish Chandra had told in the complaint that on May 15, 2022, a leopard had attacked a woman who had gone to the forest in Saplodi village and killed her. After which the forest department had set up a cage in the area to catch the leopard. A leopard was trapped in this cage on 24 May 2022.
It was written in the complaint that when the forest department officials and employees were taking the leopard trapped in the cage to the Nagdev Range office, then Saplodi village head Anil Kumar and about 150 people from nearby Sarana and Kulmori villages came there. The angry people pushed and shoved to snatch the leopard locked in the cage from the forest department employees.
The angry people snatched the cage from the forest department team. After which the people poured grass and petrol on the cage and burnt the leopard alive. On the basis of this complaint, a case was registered against village head Anil Kumar, Sarita Devi, Kailash Devi as well as about 150 villagers of Saplodi, Sarana and Kulmori villages.
A case was registered against them for obstructing government work, attacking forest personnel and killing the leopard trapped in the cage. Which was investigated by Deepak Panwar, police sub-inspector in-charge of Pabau outpost. Also started legal process against the accused.
Five accused including the then village head sentenced
Now, the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Pauri Laxman Singh has found the then village head Anil Kumar Negi, Devendra Singh, Sarita Devi, Bhuvaneshwari Devi and Kailash Devi guilty. The court has sentenced them to one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3,500. At the same time, an additional 15 days will be imposed for not depositing the fine.
