MP: Forest ranger wanted for helping black buck poachers held

A Forest ranger from Madhya Pradesh was arrested here Wednesday, months after a case was registered against him for allegedly helping poachers of a black buck by tampering with evidence, police said Thursday.

The runaway officer, identified as Bihari Singh Sikarwar, was carrying a reward of Rs 10,000 on his head.

"He was arrested from his residence in Ganesh Dham Colony Wednesday evening," said Special Task Force (STF) deputy superintendent of police DK Singh.

The poachers had killed a black buck at village Bakani which falls under the Sagar forest range.

Sikarwar, who was posted as ranger in Sagar at the time of the incident, allegedly hid the evidence in a bid to protect the hunters, following which a case was registered against him under Wildlife Protection Act, said the police officer.

He had let four of seven accused escape the spot after the incident.

"To weaken the case, the accused ranger had shown that a country-made firearm was recovered from the poachers instead of a 12 bore rifle which was actually used for hunting," said Singh.

Sikarwar has been handed over to Forest officials for further investigation.

Three forest officials who had allegedly tried to shield the poachers were already arrested, said Singh.