Tied with a rope at the corner of the boundary wall of River Heights, a condominium in Raj Nagar Extension, a langur was rescued by the forest department of Ghaziabad on Wednesday morning.
The langur is suspected to be kept in captivity for more than five days. The rescuers suspect that the langur was used to keep monkeys away from the neighbourhood, which is illegal as langur is a protected species under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Ruchin Mehra, environment and animal rights activist who also volunteered in the operation, had received the information about the langur being in captivity. She had alerted the department a few days back. "I clicked photographs and recorded a video as evidence and presented it to the forest department to take action," Mehra said.
However, sighting delay in the action, Mehra then registered a complaint on Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) portal. "Soon thereafter, the forest department took action and conducted the rescue operation," he claimed.
Meanwhile, president of AOA of River Heights, Subodh Tyagi refused to accept the presence of langur in the society. "This is a fabricated story. We have around 1,500 residents and not even one of them saw the langur being held in captivity inside the society," he said.
"If there is any truth in their claims then why was I informed after their alleged operation. Why didn’t they tell me beforehand?" Tyagi asked.
However, while speaking to City Spidey, district forest officer, Diksha Bhandari, confirmed that a langur was rescued from the society.
Reacting to Tyagi's statement, Mehra said, “I’ve evidence of langur being kept in the society tethered to a corner and also rescued after the operation. If he (Tyagi) wants, he can check.”
Meanwhile, the department is yet to register a case against the perpetrators. “We are investigating the matter. Ideally, the case will be registered against the AOA of the society as they are the caretaker of it,” said a forest official.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, langur is a protected species under Schedule II and under the IPC Sections 2, 8, 9, 11, 40, 41, 43, 48, 51, 61, and 62. According to these sections, langurs cannot be owned, traded, bought, sold or hired. Any violation is liable to a three-year jail term or fine or both.
The langur is suspected to be kept in captivity for more than five days. The rescuers suspect that the langur was used to keep monkeys away from the neighbourhood, which is illegal as langur is a protected species under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Ruchin Mehra, environment and animal rights activist who also volunteered in the operation, had received the information about the langur being in captivity. She had alerted the department a few days back. "I clicked photographs and recorded a video as evidence and presented it to the forest department to take action," Mehra said.
However, sighting delay in the action, Mehra then registered a complaint on Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) portal. "Soon thereafter, the forest department took action and conducted the rescue operation," he claimed.
Meanwhile, president of AOA of River Heights, Subodh Tyagi refused to accept the presence of langur in the society. "This is a fabricated story. We have around 1,500 residents and not even one of them saw the langur being held in captivity inside the society," he said.
"If there is any truth in their claims then why was I informed after their alleged operation. Why didn’t they tell me beforehand?" Tyagi asked.
However, while speaking to City Spidey, district forest officer, Diksha Bhandari, confirmed that a langur was rescued from the society.
Reacting to Tyagi's statement, Mehra said, “I’ve evidence of langur being kept in the society tethered to a corner and also rescued after the operation. If he (Tyagi) wants, he can check.”
Meanwhile, the department is yet to register a case against the perpetrators. “We are investigating the matter. Ideally, the case will be registered against the AOA of the society as they are the caretaker of it,” said a forest official.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, langur is a protected species under Schedule II and under the IPC Sections 2, 8, 9, 11, 40, 41, 43, 48, 51, 61, and 62. According to these sections, langurs cannot be owned, traded, bought, sold or hired. Any violation is liable to a three-year jail term or fine or both.
