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Kerala police gear up to fight wildlife crime in Kerala

  • Kerala police will launch an action plan to sensitise police officials on crime against animals
  • The new wing will work in collaboration with Forest Department, customs and other law enforcement agencies
  • Wildlife crime reaps an enormous profit of $23 billion and has strong nexus with drug mafia and terrorist gangs
Kerala police gear up to fight wildlife crime in Kerala

In a bid to tackle crime against animals, Kerala Police is planning to form a wildlife crime division. The decision was taken in the wake of increasing number of organised crimes against animals. 
 

The new division will function under the Crime Branch wing of state police. Members of Forest Department too will be taken on board. 
 

Several incidents of attack on wildlife were reported from Kerala recently. In most cases, poachers were found using automatic weapons including AK series rifles. The police also suspect involvement of militant groups engaged in wildlife trade in such incidents. 
 

The decision was taken at the first-ever wildlife symposium for state police. "An action plan would be launched to sensitise police officials about crime against animals. We also aim to form a joint platform for Forest and police officials to tackle the organised mafia with international links involved in wildlife crimes. The mafia is spreading its tentacles in the state and wildlife trade has become a transnational business," state police chief Loknath Behera said. 
 

The new venture hopes to reduce wildlife crimes considerably through joint operations of police, forests, customs and other law enforcement agencies. "The wildlife crime reaps an enormous profit of $23 billion globally and is also the second most lucrative crime in the world. The team have a strong nexus with terrorist gangs and drug mafia operating across the world.," principal chief conservator of forests S C Joshi said. 
 

The statistics with Forest Department states that in 2014 43, 450 cases were registered under various laws for protecting wildlife. As many as 745 cases were registered under Kerala Forest Act and 289 under Wildlife Protection Act while 194 cases have been registered under other Acts. Of them, only 208 cases were disposed of. 
 

However, Forest Department is facing several limitations while probing into wildlife cases. Recently two persons were booked for elephant poaching, but the authorities could not investigate their link with international tusk dealers and have sought CBI probe. 

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