Forest department seizes antlers in Punjab

Hoshiarpur, Nov 19: A joint team of forest officials and police today seized antlers worth a couple of lakhs from a godown in Mohalla Nal Abadi here this afternoon.

The team was led by Deputy Divisional Forest Officer Gurcharan Singh.

Briefing mediapersons after the raid, Mr Gurcharan Singh said the antlers, backed in 20 gunny bags, weighed 5.60 quintals. ''It is estimated that the horns were of more than 200 deer that had probably been poached,'' he added.

Antlers are not available in the market due to ban on the killing of wild animals but the horns are being used as an ingredient in some of the Ayurvedic medicine. The exact cost of the seized antlers could not be specified but according to rough estimates by forest officials the antlers sell at Rs 70 to Rs 80 per kg.

A case under section 9, 39, 50, 51 and 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act has been registered against one Pankaj, the owner of the godown from where the seizure was made. The alleged accused is at large.

Mr Singh said the raid on the godown was conducted on a tip-off.

The godown owner runs a herbs shop at local Pahari Katra and supplies the herds to makers of Ayurvedic medicines.

UNI