8 caught red-handed with wildlife hunting equipment in Ctg, case filed

The Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, Chattogram, has arrested eight individuals while they were allegedly preparing to hunt wild animals in Sitakunda.

Acting on a tip-off, the drive was carried out around 10am today in Renur Ghona area of Salimpur union of the upazila, Chattogram Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Officer Dipannita Bhattacharjee told The Business Standard.

Illegal hunting equipment were also recovered from the scene, including three nets, three machetes, a knife, a metal spear, and five wooden poles.

The arrestees are – Arjun Chakma, Bijoy Chakma, Nation Chakma, Rokey Chakma, Parantu Chakma, Sunil Kanti Chakma, Sukanta Chakma, and Mitu Chakma – aged between 20 and 42, and from Ultachhari Bihar Para in Mahalchhari of Khagrachhari.

Dipannita said the suspects confessed that they had arrived at the location from Mahalchhari around 5am with the intention of hunting wildlife such as deer, wild boars, and porcupines.

They have been sent to court, and a case has been filed in this regard, added the official.

Earlier, on 10 April, a case was filed after a gang of poachers allegedly killed a wild elephant in the port city's Banshkhali and trafficked its tusks and nails.