Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jan 12: Kundapur court has acquitted the suspects who were facing a trail for allegedly shooting down a bison at reserve forest, Mookambika sanctuary. The acquitted suspects are Mudooru residents Kottatthal Baby, Shibu, Jobi, Jadkal resident Anil and Kollur resident Baby.

The then Kollur police inspector Sampat had submitted a chargesheet to the court under Wildlife conservation act and Indian arms act stating that suspects had shot down the bison with an illegal gun. Bengaluru’s scientific laboratory gun specialist N J Prabhaker who was present during the trial had declared that the weapon used was a gun.

Similarly veterinary doctors Dr Arun Kumar Shetty and scientific expert Dr Geethalaxmi had declared that the animal that was killed was a bison. Twelve witnesses had testified in the court. But Kundapur second additional judge Chandrashekar Banakar declared that there is no evidence to suggest that the suspects themselves have shot the animal and acquitted them.

Advocate Ravikiran Murdeshwar argued for the suspects.