Man held for spraying chemicals in protected forest area of SGNP

Forest officials with the 24-year-old accused

In a swift action taken by the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) officials, a person who was destroying the forest cover in the protected area, was arrested. The accused had allegedly sprinkled poisonous chemicals on the grass and shrubs, where spotted deer usually graze. Due to the timely intervention, the lives of several spotted deer who might have eaten the grass and shrubs, has been saved, said the officials.

A still from the video that shows the man spraying chemicals in a dense area of SGNP

Earlier this week, the Honorary Wildlife Warden (HWW) of Mumbai suburbs, Mayur Kamath, received information, along with a video, about an unidentified person sprinkling chemicals on the foliage in the protected area of SGNP. Without wasting time, Kamath informed the forest department officials, who began a hunt to nab the perpetrator.

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Range Forest Officer (RFO) Rajendra Pawar from Yeoor Range of SGNP said, "Based on the information and video that we received from Kamath, instructions were given to my staff and we have arrested Yuvaraj Gawanda, 24, a resident of Dongripada, Thane, under various sections of Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Further investigations are on."

The video also shows deer grazing nearby

Sources from the forest department told mid-day that during the interrogation the accused confessed to the crime, saying he did so to ensure nothing grows on that patch and the area can be encroached upon.