A forest officer said on Wednesday that four people were arrested for reportedly rapping a Bengal monitor lizard in Maharashtra’s Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR), TheHindu reports.
The incident, which occurred in Ratnagiri district’s Gothane village, was found days after the four accused were arrested for illegally entering Chandoli National Park, which is part of the reserve, with one of them carrying a gun for hunting, he added.
The accused were being investigated after they were arrested on March 31 for illegally entering the forest, according to the official.
Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri are the four districts that make up the STR.
Sandeep Tukaram Pawar, Mangesh Kamtekar, Akshay Kamtekar, and Ramesh Ghag were the accused, he added.
“Forest officials found that the accused had reportedly raped a Bengal monitor lizard during their inquiry. Their actions were also captured on video by one of the accused’s phone,” he stated.
“We have recovered all related evidence from the accused, and they were initially taken into jail by the forest department, but they are now free on bail,” the forest official added.
They’ve been told to report to the forest officer who’s investigating the issue every Monday, he added.
“The four suspects have been charged under various sections of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972,” stated Nanasaheb Ladkat, field director of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR).
The Chenab Times News Desk