Two held in Darj with endangered plants

SNS, 3 October 2019, Darjeeling: Two persons from Lucknow were arrested from the Sinchel Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling with a huge quantity of endangered plant species having substantial market value yesterday.

Officials of the Sinchel West Range (Tiger Hill) picked up Anurag Mishra, 29, and 31- year-old Rahul Prakash pitied up the duo from the sanctuary and today produced them in a court here which sent them in 14 days' judicial custody.

"Their movement was suspicious and when we intercepted them, they did not have any permission from the forest or wildlife departments. Also, their versions varied during questioning," said Lalit Kumar Pradhan, the range officer of the Sinchel West Also, their versions varied during questioning." said Lalit Kumar Pradhan, the range officer of the Sinchel West Range.

Mr Mishra hails from Gorakhpur and Mr Prakash is from Lucnow and they posed as college students, it is learnt.

They had arrived in Darjeeling on 29 September and had return tickets for 5 October.

"It seems the two were well informed and knew what they were doing. Initially, they told us that they were collecting study materials for college project work. But when we visited their hotel room, we found a huge drum and two large bags with the endangered plants," Mr Pradhan said. He added that there could be possibilities of a bigger nexus.

Both the accused have MBA degrees with Mr Prakash said to run a liquor business back home, while Mr Mishra is employed in a reputed pen company

Forest officials found 19 kg of Lycopodium moss (Club moss) mushroom in their room the confiscated items to be sent to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) for tests." We have made a plea to the court, requesting for the samples to be sent to the BSI for tests for verification and to know what it could be used for," Mr Pradhan said.

Sources said Lycopodium moss and mushroom can be used for medicinal purposes "In fact, Lycopodium can also be used for making gun-powder, " they said.

"The duo was inside the wildlife sanctuary collecting endangered plant species without permission.The two have been sent to judicial custody," said Pankaj Prasad, the Assistant Public Prosecutor.

The accused have been arrested under the Wildlife Protection Act. 1972. Biodiversity Act, 2002 and PDPP (prevention of destruction of public property) Act, 1984, which incurs over three to five years of jail term, along with fine of over Rs 25,000 if convicted.

The wild life division will file a prosecution offence report, after which a case will be initiated against the accused, it is learnt.