Manipur Police Arrests Man for Poisoning Birds

A team of Bishnupur police Station led by sub-inspector Y. Motilal Singh arrested a man on charges of poisoning and killing birds in Manipur. Reportedly, the man has killed around 20 to 30 birds by using insecticides.

The man, ageing 52 years, has been identified as one Khundrakpam Nabachandra Singh, who killed migratory birds at Kwasiphai Maning Leikai. The migratory birds are mostly mynas and doves and the insecticides used on them are “anucron”, “super killer” and “novan”. However, Singh, after being arrested, told police that he had used the insecticides to protect his harvests from insects. He says that he had applied the poisons to protect the “American peas” that he had cultivated in his paddy field.

Although the bird killer has a different story to tell the police, on the primary investigation, police could find dead birds hanging on sticks which were used to scare the other birds. This reveals the person’s clear intentions of killing the birds.

Seeing this incident of harsh behaviour towards the wildlife, Manipur Forest and Environment minister, Th. Shyamkumar appeals to the people of the State to be kind and protective towards wildlife and the environment. This incident of bird killing using poisonous insecticides too is highly condemned by the minister.

The minister also says that the person arrested of killing migratory birds will be produced before the court for his offence. If he is found guilty, he will then be convicted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for which he can be imprisoned for a term which can extend up to three years or with fine which may extend to Rs 25,000 or with both.

The state government’s commitment to the protection of nature and wildlife and the measures taken by the government were recalled by the minister.