Shimla, April 7: A bear found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Pattidhank area of Kotkhai has led to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) after a post-mortem revealed bullet injuries. Initially believed to have died in a road accident on the Theog-Hatkoti National Highway (NH-705), the discovery of bullet marks during the post-mortem has pointed towards a potential hunting incident.
The incident came to light on Sunday morning when Forest Guard Virendra, stationed at the Garawag Beat, informed Gajta Beat In-Charge Hitendra Mohan about a dead bear near Pattidhank on NH-705 at around 6:35 am. Upon reaching the scene, the Forest Department team initially presumed the bear’s death was caused by a road accident. However, the subsequent post-mortem conducted at the Kotkhai Veterinary Dispensary revealed shocking details.
The post-mortem report confirmed the presence of three bullet marks on the bear’s neck, indicating that the animal had been shot before it died. This revelation has raised suspicions of illegal hunting in the region, prompting the Forest Department to lodge a formal complaint.
In his complaint to the Kotkhai police, In-Charge Hitendra Mohan recounted his investigation at the scene. He observed that the bear’s body was found with blood coming from its mouth and its tongue protruding, suggesting trauma. No suspicious individuals were spotted during the patrol of the area, but injury marks on the bear’s neck and chest became evident.
As a result, the Kotkhai police have registered an FIR against unknown persons under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act. Authorities are now investigating the area for any suspicious activities related to illegal hunting.
A joint team comprising police and forest department officials is actively probing the incident, and efforts are underway to identify those responsible for the unlawful killing of the bear. This case highlights growing concerns over wildlife safety and the need for increased vigilance to combat poaching in the region.
