RATNAGIRI-(MaraviPost)-Four persons are in Indian police custody for allegedly raping a Bengal monitor lizard at Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra Forest Department confirmed the news adding that officials at Sangli forest reserve spotted them through CCTV cameras and traced them.
The suspects were apprehended after the department discovered the recording of the heinous act in thier cell phones.
“During the investigation, the forest officials found that the accused had allegedly raped a Bengal monitor lizard. Their act was also recorded in a mobile phone of one of the accused persons.
“We have recovered all the related evidence from the accused and they were granted forest department custody initially, but are out on bail now,” the forest official said.
The suspects were identified as Sandeep Tukram, Akshay Sunil, Janardhan Kamtekar, and Pawar Mangesh.
They were identified as hunters who allegedly entered the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in the Gabha area at Gothane.
The forest officials also recovered two pistols and two motorcycles from them.
Forest officials said they have now sought legal opinion on invoking Section 377 (Unnatural Offences) of IPC in the case, in which the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act have already been invoked, India express reported.
The Bengal monitor lizard is a reserved species under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
The large terrestrial animal can weight up to 7 kg and they are generally hunted for meat. The accused could face seven years in prison if convicted.
Last month, a man from Kerala was arrested for allegedly raping and killed four months pregnant goat.
