The CBI has registered a case to probe hunting of sea cucumbers and taxidermised sea cucumbers in Lakshadweep against four persons for offences under the Wildlife Act.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered the case against four private persons (all residents of Kavaratti, Lakshadweep) under various Sections of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The case was originally registered on January 11 by the Forest Department of Lakshadweep, Union Territory on the allegations of hunting 46 live Sea Cucumbers and 173 Taxidermised Sea Cucumbers from the Sea.
Following due procdures, the CBI took over the probe an re-registered the case on Thursday at the agency headquarters here. Sea Cucumber is very important to protect the coral Island of Lakshadweep and is also important for marine ecosystem as tiger is n important species for environmental balance in wildlife.
The four persons named as accused include Salmanul Faris, Irfanuddin, Rameesh Khan and Mohammad Ali Kodipalli, all residents of Kavaratti in Lakshadweep. Based on secret information, the forest department of the Union Territory had seized the sea cucumbers, packets of salt from a fishing boat and apprehended the accused on January 11 from Western Side Lagoon Area at Suheli Cheriyakara Island in Kavaratti.