HOKERASAR, MARCH 16: For the past 15 days, the Hokera wetland has been witnessing a killing spree - with more than 20 poachers opening a barrage of shotgun fire at endangered migratory ducks and geese as they fly out at dusk to the feeding grounds.The law-enforcing authorities have so far made no effort to put a stop to this illegal firing which commences every day at around 5.30 pm.The poachers, who have been identified as affluent businessmen hailing from the Dal and the Nageen lake area, have gone scotfree primarily because of the alleged connivance of the local police. In fact, wildlife guards at Hokera were picked up by the Parimpora police because they protested against the illegal shooting that commenced on March 1.``False charges of gambling, womanising and drinking were brought against four wildlife functionaries who were taken to the Parimpora Police Station.They were assaulted and told that they should let the shooting continue unchecked. The SHO, Mir Hussain, has even gone to theextent of blocking the move to file an FIR against the culprits,'' a senior wildlife officer told The Indian Express.Encouraged by the `positive' police response, the poachers are only a step away from carrying on their activities in the core area of the Hokera reserve. They arrive daily in Maruti 1000s, jeeps and ambassador cars at around 4 pm and position themselves in the fields a mere 100-200 yards off the Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway.By dusk, the area is resounding with the loud reports of shotgun fire as flight after flight of ducks gain in height and wing their way from the core area to shallow waters and feeding grounds. When this correspondent visited the spot on Sunday evening, though the firing was going on, the Parimpora police led by assistant SHO G M Shah did not investigate into the matter or apprehend the poachers.No action has been taken against the poachers identified as Rafiq Wangnoo, Farooq Wangnoo, Khaliq Wangnoo, Habib Wangnoo, Shafi Wangnoo, Aslam Wangnoo andBashir Ahmad Pattloo. Other poachers fled the area after firing a few shots from the fields.The Wangnoos are houseboat owners who acted as guides for foreign tourists interested in duck-shooting during the time hunting was legalised. But now, under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act, the hunting of migratory ducks is allowed only on the grant of a special license by the Wildlife Department.Ever since the controversial duck shoot at Hokera involving Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sharmila Tagore, and the erstwhile maharaja of Patiala, the wildlife department has not issued a single hunting license.The penalties for poaching at the renowned migratory bird reserve at Hokera can involve imprisonment and steep fines, the wildlife department officer said. Even licensed shotguns cannot be carried in the Valley without sanction for the exact purpose for which the weapon is being taken along.
