Poaching is said to have claimed more lives of peacocks in the three regions of Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts of the six districts that come under Madikeri Division of CID Forest Cell.
According to informers of the Forest Cell, peacock poachers are active in Mysore, Kollegal and Chamarajanagar region.
This came to light after the arrest of Nasir Husein (40) of Gargeshwari in T Narasipur taluk and two nomads -Shivaraj (21) and Billa (33), of Tiger Block in HD Kote taluk. The trio allegedly killed 11 peacocks and 28 grey partridges at Kadu Kotthanahalli in Maddur taluk recently.
The increase in poaching is attributed to the staff crunch in the investigating wing of the CID Forest Cell. Presently, the cell has nine squads, each comprising a sub-inspector and six head constables.
The squads monitor Madikeri, Virajpet, Somwarpet, Mangalore, Puttur, Chamarajanagar, Kollegal, Mysore and Sakleshpur.
Due to the dense forests and rich fauna in these areas, the nine squads are unable to keep a constant vigil on the poachers due to the staff crunch.
A top cop in the Forest Department told Express that the government should double the number of squads in the region.
CID Forest Cell SP Jinendra Kanagavi, who took charge as Superintendent of Police of Madikeri Division recently, said that he has taken stern measures to strengthen the forest cell and has apprised the higher-ups about the powers which they require to register complaints against the poachers instead of approaching the police.
The Forest Cell needs powers on the lines of Lokayukta to register cases and investigate, he said.
“It is difficult to say if there is any organised gang behind the killings. Two of the three accused seem to be involved in crime for a livelihood as they said that they sold a peacock for `500 and a grey partridge for `60 to one Nasir Husein, who later supplied the meat to hotels after killing it in the halal manner,” he said.
Samples of the dead peacocks were sent for DNA test.
According to experts, the misconception that the national bird’s meat acts as an aphrodisiac is claiming the lives of the birds.