20 peacocks found dead in Tumakuru district, minister orders probe
Tumakuru (Karnataka), Aug 4 (PTI): Twenty peacocks were found dead under mysterious circumstances in Tumakuru district in Karnataka on Monday, and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered a probe led by the Deputy Conservator of Forests.
Of the deceased, three were male and 17 female, officials said.
The farmers who discovered the dead peacocks in a field near Medigeshi in Hanumanthapura village of Madhugiri taluk in the district alerted the police, following which they, along with the forest department officials, reached the spot.
The cause of the death is yet to be ascertained, a senior police official said, adding that samples have been collected and sent to Forensic Science Labs experts for further analysis by the forest department.
A case has been registered by the forest department.
Expressing sorrow over the death of peacocks, Minister Khandre has issued a directive to the Chief Wildlife Warden recalling that a month-and-a half ago, a tiger--our national animal--and its four cubs had died due to poisoning in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Chamrajanagara district.
This was followed by an incident where monkeys were killed and dumped near Bandipur. Now, the mass death of peacocks--our national bird--is being taken seriously by the government, he said in a statement.
Citing media reports indicating that the death of peacocks may have been due to pesticide consumption, the minister has instructed the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) led team to investigate whether the pesticide was deliberately used to kill the birds or whether the peacocks consumed pesticide-laced crops that had been sprayed for agricultural purposes.
He has directed that the investigation report be submitted within five days, and appropriate legal action be taken based on the findings.
Additionally, the minister has instructed that if any Schedule I or II wildlife species are found dead, an immediate audit should be conducted and the minister's office must be informed without delay.
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GPS tracking leads Delhi Police to arrest of habitual offender in cheating case
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a 40-year-old proclaimed offender for allegedly cheating a woman of her gold ornaments and cash in northwest Delhi, officials said on Monday.
The arrest was made after the police tracked the movement of the accused's vehicle using a GPS device, they said.
The accused, identified as Rahul, was arrested from the Model Town area on Sunday. Police also recovered the car which was used in the commission of the crime.
According to the police, Rahul is a habitual criminal involved in nine cases, including robbery, snatching, theft, culpable homicide. He is also a proclaimed offender in seven different cases.
"He committed such offences to earn easy money," Additional Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh said in a statement.
The incident took place on January 18 when a 55-year-old woman was travelling from her residence to Uttam Nagar. While she was waiting at the Haiderpur bus stand, the occupants of a car offered her a lift, claiming to be bank officials.
Once she boarded the vehicle, the accused persuaded her to hand over her gold ornaments and cash for "verification", stating they were also depositing their own money.
The woman handed over two gold rings, two ear tops and Rs 5,000 in cash. Shortly after, the accused asked her to alight quickly and handed her an envelope, claiming that bank officials had arrived.
Upon checking, the woman found the only papers in the envelop, while the accused fled with her belongings. The woman later approached the police and lodged a complaint.
Following the complaint, police analysed technical inputs and traced the car used in the crime. A GPS tracking device was installed in the vehicle to monitor its movement discreetly.
"Based on real-time location data generated through the GPS device, the accused was tracked and apprehended," the officer said.
During interrogation, Rahul confessed to his involvement in the case along with two others, identified as Manoj and Amit. Efforts are on to arrest the remaining suspects and recover the stolen items, the officer added.
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