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Instagrammer Arrested for Hunting Monitor Lizards
23 Aug
Summary
- An Instagrammer was arrested in Telangana for hunting monitor lizards.
- Videos of the alleged hunting activity were posted on Instagram.
- The suspect was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Forest officials in Telangana have arrested an Instagram user, Yasa Chanti, for allegedly hunting monitor lizards. The action was initiated after videos surfaced on the Instagram account 'Chanti Local' (@yasachanti), reportedly depicting the hunting and killing of monitor lizards using domestic dogs. These videos brought the matter to the attention of wildlife authorities.
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Southern Region, Chennai, alerted forest officials in the Bhadradri Kothagudem district. Following the WCCB's tip, divisional forest officers and wildlife officials at Kinnerasani verified the content and identified Chanti. A case was registered against him under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, as monitor lizards are a protected species under Schedule I.
Chanti, a resident of Ulvanoor village, was produced before a Kothagudem court on Sunday. Given the severity of the wildlife offense, the court ordered his judicial custody for 14 days. He has since been transferred to the Bhadrachalam sub-jail, concluding the initial phase of legal proceedings initiated due to his social media activity.
