- In a significant turn of events, a YouTuber couple, hailing from Jajpur district, surrendered to authorities.
- The duo had been evading law enforcement since a raid conducted by a joint team of Jajpur Road and Cuttack Forest departments on their residence.
- The couple faces charges under Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, which pertains to the illegal possession and display of protected wildlife species.
- The Forest Department has intensified efforts to curb such activities, issuing warnings to social media users who unlawfully post content featuring prohibited wildlife.
- PCCF reiterated the department’s stance on taking action against both individuals and social media platforms facilitating the dissemination of illegal wildlife content.
In a significant turn of events, a YouTuber couple, Monalisha Bhadra and her husband, hailing from Jajpur district, surrendered to authorities on Wednesday night. The duo had been evading law enforcement since a raid conducted by a joint team of Jajpur Road and Cuttack Forest departments on their residence. The raid was prompted by allegations of the couple keeping wild animals and sharing their photos and videos on social media platforms, a violation of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
Jyoti Ranjan Mohapatra, the range officer of Jajpur Road, confirmed the surrender, indicating that the Forest Department’s investigation is ongoing. The couple faces charges under Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, which pertains to the illegal possession and display of protected wildlife species.
Authorities had previously warned the couple to refrain from housing wild animals and posting related content on social media platforms. Despite these warnings, the couple continued their activities, prompting the Forest Department to take decisive action.
During the raid on the Bhadra’s residence, authorities seized a monkey. However, the couple managed to evade capture, absconding before the arrival of the Forest Department team. This evasion further escalated the seriousness of the charges against them.
The Forest Department has intensified efforts to curb such activities, issuing warnings to social media users who unlawfully post content featuring prohibited wildlife. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Susanta Nanda, emphasized the influence of such content and warned of consequences for violators. Recently, Mirza Md Arif from Bhadrak district was arrested for possessing live snakes and sharing videos of capturing and releasing wild animals.
Nanda reiterated the department’s stance on taking action against both individuals and social media platforms facilitating the dissemination of illegal wildlife content. Notices have been served to platforms, demanding the removal of offending accounts and content. Failure to comply will result in further legal measures.
The Forest Department’s Joint Task Force (JTF) is actively investigating accounts found in violation of wildlife protection guidelines, signaling a robust response to curb such illicit activities on social media.
(With inputs from agencies)
