Bird poaching: Bandipora residents asked to submit licensed

The authorities in north Kashmir's Bandipora district have directed the licensed gun holders to deposit their weapons in police stations in order to stop their misuse for poaching migratory birds in the famous Wullar Lake, one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia.
"In order to stop misuse of licensed guns for poaching migratory birds in Wullar Lake and adjoining wetlands of Bandipora, the District Magistrate has ordered all the gun licence holders of the district, except Tehsil Gurez and Tulail, to deposit their guns in the nearby police stations within a week," an official spokesman said here today.

He said those who fail to deposit their guns, their licences would be cancelled and action under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act, 1978 would be taken.
Since the migration period extends from September to May, the spokesman said, these restrictions would be in force only for these months every year.
Reports of increased incidents of poaching of migratory birds in the area had come to the fore recently, forcing the authorities to issue the order.