Czechoslovakian entomologist escapes from India

Siliguri (West Bengal), Oct 28: Czechoslovakian entomologist Emil Kucera has jumped bail and reached his home in Czechoslovakia, according to reports on Tuesday, Oct 28. Kucera had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for illegally collecting rare insects from a national park in West Bengal's Darjeeling District. Czech Ambassador in India Hynek Kmonicek said over phone from New Delhi that he received an e-mail from Kucera stating that he had left India as "he had no other alternative but to reach his country".

Kmonicek said, "It is absolutely Kucera's personal responsibility and the Czech embassy is ready to extend all possible help to India on this issue."

On June 22, Kucera was arrested along with fellow entomologist, Petr Svacha, for collecting beetles, butterflies and moths from Singalila National Park without valid documents.

Kucera was awarded three years imprisonment and fined Rs 60,000. Svacha was let off with a fine of Rs 20,000.

Kucera, who was out on bail for making an appeal in a higher court, was staying in a Darjeeling hotel before his escape.

ANI