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Poaching & Trade - Poaching, Politicians and Passive Courts
Although there has been a reported increase in seizures of tiger and other wildlife across the State since 1994, efforts are patchy and are the result of a few committed individuals. While poachers and couriers are caught, the major traders have so far evaded prosecution.
Few attempts are made by the police to conduct follow-up investigations. Even if traders are caught red-handed their rich or political connections lead to their early release on bail and pressure on Forest Department officers to drop cases. Forest Department staff, at all levels, are further demoralised by the low priority accorded to any cases they do bring to court.
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Sansar Chand: Still Free To Trade
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In 1996, EIA profiled the notorious wildlife trader, Sansar Chand who has at least 40 cases against him dating back to 1974. He is said to be responsible for most of the major wildlife crime in Northern India and is the accused in nine cases which are currently running across India. At the moment he is on bail and has so far evaded justice.
Chand's network reportedly extends from the field to the international borders with shrewd lawyers to ensure that he stays out of jail. His associates have not been so fortunate. A co-accused in a case in Haridwar has already served a two year sentence while Chand's younger brother Raj Kumar, alias Pappu, was arrested in June 1998, having absconded from the authorities following incidents relating to the recovery of six leopard skins and the shooting of a tiger in Sariska Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan) in 1988.
In 1993, Pappu was caught along with the Chand's brother-in-law, Krishan Lal, when Delhi police seized six leopard skins. Pappu is also the accused in a narcotics case and NGOs hope the case against him will now proceed.
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