3 cops killed amid unbridled poaching in MP
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Bhopal: The state government would give the three policemen the status of martyrs after they were shot dead by poachers in Guna district in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.
Police reportedly recovered from the poachers two blackbucks, four heads and peacock. One poacher was also killed in the cross-firing and two of them were arrested.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs crore for each of the bereaved family.
The state administration suspended Gwalior zone IG Anil Sharma for not reaching the crime scene immediately. He was replaced by 1997 batch IPS officer D Srinivas Verma.
The incident raised concerns about the unbridled activities of poachers in the forests of the state endangering its wildlife.
Wildlife activist Ajay Dube said poachers' movement with arms indicated a possible nexus which should be probed.
Dube earlier exposed the nexus between poachers and the senior forest officials at Panna tiger reserve.
Guna's forest area has always been a target of poachers because of blackbucks and peacocks, he told IANS.
He alleged forest officials who took action against poachers or wood smugglers faced 'dire consequences'.
In a couple of incidents goons having links to politicians beat up forest guards, he said.
Last month, forest guards in Badli forest circle were attacked by hunters at night.
One guard got knife injuries while another received a gunshot.
April last year, forest guards in Sheopur district were allegedly attacked by Dhanrag, son of sitting MLA Sitaram Adivasi.
The nexus of officials and poachers had Panna Tiger Reserve denuded of its big cats in 2008.
Congress leader Dr Govind Singhm accused the BJP government of allowing 'jungle raj' in the state.
State BJP president VD Sharma countered accusing former Chief Minister and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh of having a strong connection with poachers.
With inputs from IANS