Chitradurga: A social activist and advocate Madhu Kumar filed a complaint against Murugha Rajendra Shiva Murthy Seer on Friday September 23 with Forest Deputy Conservator alleging disappearence of more than 40 antelope from Math premises.
The complaint alleged that Murugha Matha created Murugha Vana in Matha premises a decade ago and was rearing antelopes , peacocks and other birds. But the antelopes have disappeared from matha premises since 2018.
According to Wildlife Act 1972 no person can keep nor rear wild animals nor birds of any species. The persons have to take permission from the wildlife warden and enrol themselves to rear wild animals.
However the Matha Seer was rearing animals without taking any permission from forest authorities, it is alleged.The complaint alleged that the Seer be booked under Wildlife Act for rearing wild animals illegally.
When contacted Chitradurga division DCF Rajanna said he received complaint from social activist Madhu Kumar and forwarded it to RFO for conducting probe in to issue.
Range Forest Officer Sandeep Nayak said that he received complaint copy, which he has forwarded from DCF and initiated probe. Rearing any wild animal is an offence and he would conduct investigation and would submit report within next two days to higher authorities. No
question of guilty being spared, he said.
The Seer who is facing POCSO under sexual harassment case would have to face another case under Wildlife Act if found guilty. It is said that the Matha has more than 300 years of history and have influence in State Government level. Hence forest officers did not
question them despite knowing the rearing of wild animals.
A Matha worker refused to comment on the issue. The staff of SJM Educational Institutions including medical college did not receive last month’s salary as the President of institutions Shivamurthy have to sign rhe cheques. The advocate of seer appealed trial court to give permission to sign cheques which was turned down by the court.
The Mysore based Odanadi NGO and other progressive organisations on Thursday September 22 staged protest in front of DC’s Office against District Child Protection officers attitude for confining two minor girls in remand home.
Odanadi Stanley said to mediapersons that the sexual harassment of minor victims should be send to the place where they like to go. Forcibly confining them in remand home is against to law. Even though court permitted them to counsel the victims, authorities are not allowing them to speak with victims. He alleged that the classmates of victim girls has been shifted to other institutions of matha without permission. Now the authorities made two victims orphans without them being given access for counseling and also they are being deprived of education.
