Four poachers arrested for hunting wild boar

MUMBAI: A group of four poachers was apprehended by the security staff of the National Defence Academy (NDA) on Sunday morning for hunting a wild boar on the premises of the NDA's Khadakwasla campus.

The trespassers were accompanied by seven hunting dogs. The NDA team seized three spears, two handmade stun bombs and four mobile phones used for coordinating the hunt.

In a statement, NDA said that Lt Col Gagandeep Singh (Adjutant, NDA), who was leading a hack ride team near the area, alerted the security section staff about the poaching at 7.45am.

Security officer Lt Col Mohanty and his team swung into action and apprehended the group of civilians.

The carcass of the boar has been seized. The poachers have been identified as Sandeep Sonar (32) and Amit Sonar (26), both residents of Sonarwadi, Shanker Baper Parge (24) from Aglambe village, and Devshanker Wanjale (21) from Ahire village.

NDA officials said that photos recovered from the mobile phones of offenders confirms that they were professional hunters.

The offenders were handed over to the forest department and the Warje-Malwadi police station has been intimated.

NDA commandant Air Marshal Kulwant Singh Gill reiterated that the NDA has been a safe haven for a variety of protected flora and fauna and it's their continual effort to protect them.