Watch: Forest Officials Raid Hunters House In Nizamabad Seize 2 Rifles, Meat Of Black Naped Hare

The Vigilance and Anti-poaching officials of Telangana Forest Department conducted a raid in the early hours of Sunday at Jokora village near Varni in Nizambad district where officials seized hare meat and two rifles.

The officials raided a rice mill belonging to a poaching gang headed by a person named Luqman Affendi. Forest officials found a Black Naped Hare which was hunted and skinned. They also found two rifles with telescope and silencers , search lights, binoculars, knives, torch lights etc. On enquiry by the DFO Vigilance, Luqman Affendi stated that he had gone for hunting to the nearby forest areas and farmlands to hunt Black bucks, but could not find any and instead hunted the hare, which he came across.

The Forest officials simultaneously conducted raids on the house of Luqman Affendi at Gudimalkapur in Mehadipatnam in Hyderabad and found meat stored in deep freezers and two rifle butts there. The meat samples will be sent to CCMB at Hyderabad for identification of the animal.

 A SUV used by them was also seized by the Forest officials, along with the rifles and other equipment used in hunting from the accused. Five offenders involved in the hunt were arrested and will be produced before the Judicial Court for remand for hunting and violations of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. As per information received by the Department shows that Luqman Affendi is a habitual hunter.

The hunting of the Hare is punishable under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 with imprisonment up to 3 years or fine upto Rs. 25000/- or both. The five persons arrested include Luqman Affendi, his brother Imran Affendi, both residents of Hyderabad, Shaik Raj Ahmed who looks after the the rice mill belonging to Luqman Affendi, Mohammed Jameel and Mohammed Shahrukh.