PFA reacts to villagers' gifting of barking deer to Francis Ngajokpa
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 08 2014:
People for Animal (PFA) Manipur was shocked at the photo report of some local dallies, where Fancis Ngajokpa, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj was seen receiving carcass of a Barking deer as a gift from the villagers during his recent visit to Bendremai and Willong of Senapati district.
A statement of the PFA said that it had a telephonic conversation with Fancis Ngajokpa who told PFA Manipur that he loves wild animals and he honoured the wildlife protection acts.
Saying he did not bring along the carcass of the deer, the Minister clarified that he was just standing near their gift of the ignorant villagers and not to spoil the function.
Later the Minister reportedly advised the villagers not to kill wildlife, informed the statement.
In the conversation, minister added disappointedly that the villagers were far behind the line of wildlife conservation as the needy villagers themselves struggle for existence.
In the aftermath of the incident, PFA also approached the DFO, Senapati to check further hunting in the district, said the statement while adding that killing, gifting, receiving, buying or selling of wild animal come under hunting and it is severely punishable under WLP Acts.
The Act covers all areas, hills and valley, all people, rich and poor, literate, illiterate, ignorant, intellectual, bureaucrats and lay men.
PFA said it is not happy with the tradition or habit of some villagers of Manipur of hunting wild animals and gifting to the guest.
Hunting is compulsory for human existence at the time of early man.
In that time human doesn't know how to rear, breed or domesticated animal.
Sticking to hunting in the name of tradition or culture wouldn't be an act of wisdom as it adversely affects the human beings, added the PFA statement.