Dantewada: Three men have been detained by forest officials in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district after a viral social media reel allegedly showed them hunting, killing, cooking and consuming a Bengal monitor lizard. The incident has prompted action under India’s wildlife protection laws.
Viral reel exposes wildlife offence
The incident reportedly took place in the Shyamgiri area of the Bacheli forest range around two months ago. The three men allegedly caught the monitor lizard in the forest and filmed the act.
The video later surfaced on social media, where it showed the reptile being subjected to cruelty. The footage reportedly included the animal’s legs being cut with a sharp instrument. The men allegedly described the animal as ‘chakhna’, or a snack to accompany liquor.
The social media post eventually alerted authorities, leading forest officials to begin tracing those involved.
Three men taken into custody
Following the investigation, a joint team of police and forest officials traced the suspects to Khutepal village. Hunga Oyam, 30, Kosa Oyami, 39, and Nandaram Oyami, 36, were taken into custody and handed over to the forest department.
According to the forest department, the men confessed to killing the animal and subsequently cooking and eating it.
Protected species under wildlife law
The Bengal monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) is protected as a Schedule I species under India’s wildlife protection framework. Forest officials said further action was being initiated under the Wild Life (Protection) Act.
The case also highlights growing concerns over wildlife offences being recorded and shared on social media. Authorities in Dantewada have dealt with several other alleged hunting cases in recent months involving protected wildlife.