Bettiah: A hunter has been arrested by the forest department for allegedly laying live electrical wires to trap wild animals in the buffer zone of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), while three others involved in the illegal activity remain at large. The arrest followed a raid by forest officials after receiving reports of traps being set up near the Sareh area, close to Bhimsenwa bridge in Bhedihari forest compartment number M-25.
The hunters had rigged live wires connected to an 11,000 KV power line, posing a deadly threat to wildlife in the reserve. Jai Narayan Mahato, a resident of Bhatwa Tola, was apprehended, but three other suspects—Indal Mahato, Ram Pyare Mahato, and Vishal Oraon—managed to escape. Rajkumar Paswan, the Valmikinagar Ranger, confirmed that a patrolling team led by forester Naveen Kumar seized five kilograms of live wiring from the scene.
At the time of the raid, electricity was actively flowing through the wires, posing a fatal risk to any wildlife that came into contact. The forest department swiftly dismantled the setup, preventing potential harm to animals. Jai Narayan Mahato has since been charged under the Wildlife Protection Act and remanded to judicial custody.
The forest department has launched a search operation to apprehend the remaining suspects and has reiterated its commitment to protecting the area’s wildlife. Officials warned that any attempt to hunt or endanger wildlife would result in strict legal action. Residents are encouraged to report any illegal activity in the forest to help safeguard the region’s biodiversity.
