Our Correspondent
Wokha, June 13 (EMN): Three persons were arrested on Monday at Bhandari Town in connection with the torture and killing of an endangered Great Indian Hornbill.
A video of a Great Indian Hornbill being tortured before being killed in Wokha district had sparked outrage after it was circulated on social media.
Sources said that the three accused persons were further forwarded to Wokha Headquarters, where the Wildlife department will place a preliminary offence report (POR) in the district court on Tuesday before a final offence report is submitted.
Wildlife protection proceedings will be initiated; they will undergo health checkup and will remain in police custody for 24 hours, it was informed.
Wildlife Warden Dimapur, Tokaho Kinimi told Eastern Mirror that it's too early to comment on the case as it is in the early stage where legal interrogation is yet to be done, after which trial will be initiated.
He said that he was heading to Wokha while the wildlife crime unit was already being deployed to arrest the three accused. He went on to say that the accused, if found guilty, will be in big trouble as the bird is under Schedule-1 species.
Kinimi had earlier told this newspaper that the investigation was on in connection with the viral video, and that culprits involved in capturing and torturing the bird would be booked under relevant sections of Wildlife Protection Act.
Also read: Torture of Hornbill in Wokha caught on camera; authorities say investigation on