Major Poaching, Wildlife Smuggling Racket Exposed

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A recent investigation into the illegal trade of blackbuck meat has exposed a deep network of wildlife poaching and trafficking, implicating several individuals and shedding light on their activities spanning across Madhya Pradesh's forests and beyond.

The breakthrough came after the authorities intercepted a mobile phone belonging to a key suspect, Imtiaz, who had been apprehended in connection with smuggling of 65 kg blackbuck meat in December last year. This mobile yielded several pictures and videos, including some shocking visuals of Imtiaz posing with rifles after hunting blackbuck and chital, showcasing not only the trophy kills but also his involvement in selling the meat for lakhs in the black market.

The probe revealed that the suspects were actively bidding for the meat, which was often sold in large quantities at inflated prices. Investigators also uncovered that the illegal hunting syndicate had been operating for years, with the focus mainly on the dense forests of Madhya Pradesh, particularly near the Satpura Tiger Reserve, where the last known location of Imtiaz was traced via his mobile phone data.

Additionally, authorities have discovered that the accused were not just selling meat. They were also trafficking blackbuck and chital skins, which were smuggled abroad, further complicating the illegal operations and making this case a transnational wildlife crime.

The Vishnoi community, known for its dedication to wildlife protection, has now stepped forward to assist in the investigation. According to Mokharam Dharaniya, district president of the Wildlife Protection Organization and Ramkishan Delu, general secretary of the outfit, this issue has garnered significant local concern.

They alleged that some forest department officials may have aided these smugglers, allowing them to operate without fear of law.

The incident and arrests

Back in December 2024, the Mahu forest department and Kishanganj Police had intercepted an Innova car suspected of transporting illegal meat. The vehicle, traveling from Bhopal to Mumbai, was stopped at a toll booth after a tip-off was received by the Kishanganj police.

Inside the vehicle were three individuals: Johar Hussain (Mumbai), Imtiaz (Andheri, Mumbai), and Salman (also from Mumbai). The authorities seized a large amount of meat and sent it for forensic testing. Early suspicion indicates that the meat may have been from a blackbuck, a protected species under Indian wildlife laws.

The authorities are continuing their investigation into the source of the meat and also trying to find out who in Mumbai was supposed to receive the consignment. The three arrested individuals are currently being quizzed to get further details about their network.

The incident has opened a broader investigation into illegal wildlife trafficking, raising serious questions about the involvement of certain individuals within the forest department who may have enabled the accused to operate with impunity.

As investigations continue, authorities are likely to uncover more details about this illegal operation, potentially bringing more perpetrators to justice.