Karnataka Forest minister directs officials to initiate measures to check human-animal conflict
Bengaluru (PTI): In view of the recurring tiger attacks in Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre on Wednesday directed officials to install cameras along forest fringes and alert local residents in advance about tiger movement through round-the-clock monitoring.
Chairing a meeting on human-animal conflict here, Khandre said that farmers working in their fields and plantations are being attacked by wild animals.
A statement issued by the minister's office said, Khandre instructed that cameras be installed near human settlements and farmlands to issue timely warnings and prevent loss of lives and crops.
The minister called for both short-term and long-term solutions, including thermal surveillance and intensified patrolling.
He further ordered that the most conflict-prone villages around Bandipur and Nagarahole forests be identified, and forest watch camps established every five to six km, involving local youth for monitoring.
Khandre directed that rescue teams with elephants be rushed immediately whenever a tiger attacks livestock.
Injured or aged tigers should be captured and treated appropriately, he said.
He also instructed the appointment of senior officers as nodal officials to camp in conflict zones and resolve issues on the ground.
The minister announced the formation of an expert committee to study the ecological carrying capacity of wildlife habitats and the causes for animals straying into human areas. Based on the committee's report, suitable action would be taken, he said.
Khandre also highlighted the spread of invasive weeds such as Lantana and Senna, which have reduced fodder availability for herbivores, forcing elephants out of forests.
He directed that these weeds be scientifically removed, and that best practices from other states be studied and adopted.
Khandre's direction came following four people killed within a span of a month in Mysuru district in tiger attack, two deaths in tusker attack.
Also, two tigers and their three cubs were poisoned to death in Chamarajanagar after they preyed on cattle.
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
