Five booked for electrocuting chital in Gondia forest; two accused absconding

A case of poaching has come to light in the Baklasarra forest, which falls under the Salekasa forest range in Gondia district. A protected animal, the chital, was reportedly hunted using an electric current. A forest department team reached the spot and seized the fresh skin and meat of the chital, along with material used in the poaching.

The forest department has registered an offence against five people under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Two of the accused are said to be absconding for now. Forest teams are searching for some of the accused.

According to the information, the department received a confidential tip-off on October 28, 2026, that wildlife was being hunted in the forest of Mauja Baklasarra by passing an electric current. As the matter was serious, a forest team reached the spot immediately and conducted a raid. During the inspection, officials found the fresh spotted skin of a chital, meat and material linked to the poaching.

A panchnama of the site was then drawn up in the presence of the investigating officer (forester) and panch witnesses. All the material was seized. The process has begun to send samples of the seized meat and skin to the Livestock Development Officer (LDO) and the forensic science laboratory for medical examination and forensic analysis.

The department has booked the accused under Sections 9, 39, 48, 50 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The five named are Narendra Shriram Chaudhaye (26), Dinesh Bharatlal Meshram (26), Raju Bhagchand Uikey (30), Bharatlal Kisanlal Meshram (60) and Krishna Bisaram Chaudhaye (55). All are residents of Baklasarra, Salekasa tehsil, Gondia district. They are accused of poaching.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Conservator of Forests Pawan Kumar Jog and Assistant Conservator of Forests Sachin Dongarwar, and was led by Salekasa Range Forest Officer Atul Walke. Field assistant J.G. Khan, Chauhan, Pradeep Bhandarkar, Kishor Funde, Vinod Bhendarkar, Paulzagde, Sulakhe and Sunil Barse took part, along with other forest guards and forest staff.

The action has caused panic among poachers in the area. The Salekasa forest range office is conducting further investigation.