Teacher arrested for poaching bird of rare species in Jammu and Kashmir

A government school teacher was arrested on charges of poaching and carcass of a female Himalayan Monal, a rainbow-coloured bird locally named Haam, who was seized in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri on Saturday, officials of the wildlife department said.

Mukhtar Ahmad was arrested near Panar bridge on Mughal Road, which falls under the jurisdiction of Tatakutti Wildlife Sanctuary, while his three associates managed to escape, the officials said.

A team headed by the Surankote control room in charge Mohammad Yaqoob intercepted Ahmad’s car based on specific inputs. Efforts are on to nab the three men who escaped, the officials said.

The carcass of the bird which is native to the Himalayas, about 2.5 kg meat, a 12-bore gun barrel, three live cartridges and an empty cartridge of a 12-bore gun were seized, they said.

The officials said they have secured Ahmad's custody till February 24 for further investigation.

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