A case has been registered against three villagers in Ramtek taluka of Nagpur district in Maharashtra after a sloth bear allegedly died of electrocution.
An official, while highlighting the death of a sloth bear, said that a sloth bear died after coming in contact with an illegally charged fence around agricultural land.
As per PTI, the incident came to light after information was received that a bear had died on May 15 after coming into contact with an electrified wire fence erected around maize and paddy fields in Umri village.
The main accused, Jaidev Raising Salame (36), is alleged to have passed electric current through the fence to keep wild animals away from his crops. During the investigation, it was further revealed that the bear`s carcass was allegedly buried in a pit in an attempt to conceal the incident and destroy evidence, officials said.
Forest Department officials visited the spot on May 22 and carried out an inquiry. However, police officials claimed that the accused admitted that the animal had died after receiving an electric shock from the fencing.
Two other villagers, Avinash Yashwant Kokode and Hameshlal Hamilal Uike, have also been named in the case for allegedly helping dispose of the carcass.
Based on the findings, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Indian Electricity Act. Further investigation is underway.
Maharashtra to install AI-based wildlife alert system in 1,000 villages
While the human-wildlife conflict across the state has been a major issue for the last few days, the Maharashtra government has approved a major Rs 260 crore action plan aimed at reducing the conflict. As per PTI, the government is set to install artificial intelligence-based alert systems in 1,000 villages.
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik announced the decision during a meeting of the State Wildlife Board’s standing committee held at the Mantralaya in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Under the project, AI-based warning systems will be installed in villages located near forest areas to alert residents about the movement of wild animals.
The technology has already been tested on a pilot basis in some locations and was found to be effective in informing villagers quickly about the presence of wildlife outside forest zones, officials said.
Officials said the system would help residents remain alert and reduce attacks on humans.
Ten advanced control rooms to be set up
The Forest Department will also establish ten modern control rooms across different parts of the state, modelled on police control centres.
These centres will use digital systems to monitor forest department resources, vehicles and patrol teams.
(With inputs from PTI)