French nationals detained in Sikkim

Gangtok, Jul 22: Altogether three French nationals were detained by Sikkim Forest and Wildlife Department on July 20 night after they were caught illegally collecting wildlife species at a stream near Budang under Soreng constituency of West Sikkim.

Around 200 moths, butterflies and beetles were recovered from the French trio, including a lady during a raid conducted by the West district Wildlife Forest Department at the spot, forest officials said.

The seized wildlife items and the passports of the three accused Francis Gavririv (21), Ludivelli Zenili (21) and Arnud Zin Raymond Potshin (23) are now under the custody of the forest department, the official sources stated, adding that equipments like net and lights to collect such species were also recovered from them.

DFO (Wildlife) from West District Swarup Vijendra said that the accused persons had been asked not to leave the state until investigations were completed.

The French team had been charged under section Nine of Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

If the seized wildlife species fall under Schedule I or II of Wildlife Act, the charges will be non-compoundable, which means the accused will have to go through prosecution and if the species fall under Schedule III or below, the matter can be resolved with proper fines, it was informed.

In this matter, the state Chief Wildlife Warden would decide on which Schedule the species fall under.

The French trio stated that they were students but they did not have valid permits to collect the species nor did they have any authorization from the state forest department, said Mr Vijendra.

Communication problem had also cropped up during the investigations as the accused persons were speaking only in French and they had no guides.

They had already been produced before the judicial magistrate.

The team had entered Sikkim through Rabang check post from the Darjeeling side.

UNI