Shillong: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have apprehended two suspects in connection with the illegal killing of an endangered musk deer in the Bandipora forest. Police officials confirmed the arrests on Monday, though a third individual involved in the incident remains at large.
The two men in custody are Noorani Swathi and Akther Ali Swathi, both residents of Kalakote in Rajouri. Local police have registered a case under FIR number 9/2026, citing Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita alongside multiple sections of the Wildlife Protection Act. This legal action follows a recent investigation and the issuance of warrants after evidence of the poaching surfaced in the region.
Musk deer, known locally as Roose Kat, are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List and receive strict protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Act. These elusive, antlerless animals typically inhabit high-altitude coniferous forests and alpine scrub. They are frequently targeted by poachers seeking their valuable scent glands, a practice that poses a severe threat to the remaining population.
Wildlife officials expressed serious concern over the incident in Bandipora, a district where these deer are occasionally spotted. Law enforcement agencies continue to pursue the remaining suspect and have stated that the investigation remains active as they work to hold all involved parties accountable.
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