Two individuals have been apprehended by the police in Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, in connection with the musk deer killing, while one suspect remains at large. The arrests signal a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the poaching of the endangered animal.
Authorities took action following the initiation of legal proceedings and issuance of warrants related to the poaching incident in the Bandipora forest area. Concern had been expressed by wildlife protection department officials over the killings of the endangered musk deer in the region.
An FIR, numbered 9/2026, has been filed at Police Station Pethkoot under Section 325 BNS and Sections 9, 39, and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The arrested individuals have been identified as Noorani Swathi and Akther Ali Swathi, both residents of Kalakote Rajouri, with the third accused still evading arrest.
The recent arrests mark a continuation of the investigative efforts, with authorities conducting a thorough inquiry and indicating further legal measures against all individuals suspected of involvement in the wildlife crime.
The Kashmir Musk Deer and the Himalayan Musk Deer, both classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, face grave threats due to poaching for their valuable scent glands and habitat degradation. Musk deer, known as ‘Roose Kat’ in the Kashmir Valley, are elusive creatures found in high-altitude regions like Ganderbal, Bandipora, and Kishtwar.
