*24 May 2011* *NAGPUR *: The intruder arrested inside the core area of Bor wildlife sanctuary in Wardha district has been confirmed to be a mentally ill youth, said forest officials.
TOI had reported on May 21 that Sanjeev Kumar Bajrang Singh Markam, who claimed to be a resident of Shivpur village under the jurisdiction of Barela police station in Jabalpur district, had trespassed in the sanctuary. Wildlife officials were wondering whether the arrested 22-year-old youth was actually a poacher or mentally ill. The youth was found in compartment number 222 in Gavhankhedi area of the sanctuary around 6.30am on May 15, when the pugmark census exercise was on. To ascertain the facts, forester RJ Fule was sent to Barela. Official sources said the forester, with help from Barela police, went to the address given by the youth. He met the youth's mother and showed his pictures. She confirmed that the youth was her mentally ill son. Sanjeev Kumar's mother also confirmed that eight months ago he had left home and since then her family knew nothing about him. The statement of the youth's mother were recorded by Barela police. Markam has been booked for illegally entering the sanctuary. He was produced before judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Selu, who remanded him to magisterial custody till May 25. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-24/nagpur/29582232_1_mentally-ill-youth-bor-wildlife-sanctuary-forest-officials ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Is Bor 'poacher' a mentally ill person? *Vijay Pinjarkar* *21 May 2011* *NAGPUR* : The field staff of Bor wildlife sanctuary, 60km from Nagpur, in Wardha district, arrested a suspect from the core area of the sanctuary on May 15. The youth hails from a village in Jabalpur district in Madhya Pradesh. However, wildlife officials are puzzled whether the arrested youth is actually a poacher or a mentally ill person. The youth, claiming to be around 22 years, was found loitering in compartment number 222 in Gavhankhedi area of the sanctuary around 6.30am on May 15 by van majoor Ashok Kole, some 8km from the gate. When Kole questioned the youth, he gave his name as Sanjeev Kumar Bajrang Singh Markam, a resident of Chilpuri village in the jurisdiction of Barela police station in Jabalpur district. A search found no objectionable materials or weapons on Markam. Kole was suspicious of Markam's intentions since he hails from MP, which is home for several gangs of Baheliyas, who target tigers in forest areas of Maharashtra. Yet, the 'poacher' has been exhibiting very meek behaviour. After Kole found the youth, he asked Markam to wait at the same spot and went to Garamsur chowki to inform forest guard SR Taksande. Interestingly, till the duo returned, Markam was waiting there instead of escaping. Later, Markam accompanied Kole to the range forest office, where he told forest officials he worked with an explosives company at Bazargaon. However, no person by that name is employed with the company. During interrogation, Markam behaved abnormally, showing that he was not mentally sound. He was produced before judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Selu, who remanded him to magisterial custody till May 25. Markam is lodged at Wardha jail and has been booked under Section 27(1) of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 for illegally entering a sanctuary. Officials are reluctant to say he is a poacher. "We are looking into all aspects and investigations are still on. We will look into the youth's antecedents, and whether he hails from a criminal background," said A Ashraf, conservator of forests (CF), Pench tiger reserve. TOI too tried to trace the youth's village. RC Patel, beat in-charge of the area from where Markam hails, said his inquiries at Sakartala village under Khamaria Thana revealed that the youth is mentally deranged. "There is no offence registered against Markam at Barela police station," Patel said. However, conservationists feel forest officials shouldn't take chances. The suspect's identity should be verified by sending a team to the village from where he hails before releasing him, they said. "It is surprising why somebody will enter the sanctuary just ahead of 'Buddha Pournima' day, when poachers are very active due to better visibility in forests. With 12 tigers in Bor and its landscape as per the latest estimation, the sanctuary and area around it are on the poachers radar," believe conservationists. They also revealed that in January this year steel traps were found near Kawdas in Hingna forest range. Forest officials had also zeroed in on a gang, but the poachers gave them the slip. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-21/nagpur/29568227_1_forest-officials-forest-guard-poacher -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
