In a swift action, forest officials arrested two poachers, Nasrat Ali (40) of Padratha, Haridwar, and Bahadur Ali (42) of Subhash Vihar, Delhi, in the Pathri area of the Haridwar forest division on Tuesday. The men were caught with firearms after they attempted to shoot a deer and a Nilgai near a natural water body.
Despite opening fire, the poachers failed to kill the animals. Acting on a tip-off, the forest department tracked and detained the suspects before they could escape. A case has been registered against them under the India Forest Act and Wildlife Protection Act.
Haridwar range officer Shailendra Negi told TOI, “Our patrolling team responded immediately after the firing. Initial investigations suggest the two may be linked to a larger poaching network. We are continuing the probe to identify and apprehend other members involved.”
The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by forest authorities to crack down on wildlife crimes and protect endangered species in the region.
