Goa: Forest, Town and Country Planning minister Vishwajit Rane initiates probe into death of leopard on rail tracks

Times of India | 8 months ago | 21-05-2022 | 04:37 am

Goa: Forest, Town and Country Planning minister Vishwajit Rane initiates probe into death of leopard on rail tracks

Canacona/Panaji: After the recent incident where a leopard aged between four and five years was found dead on the railway tracks at Padi-Quepem on Thursday, minister for forests Vishwajit Rane has ordered an investigation into the incident. “Really sad to hear about the tragic incident of a leopard being hit by a train. I’ve asked the additional principal chief conservator of forests to look into the situation and investigate the matter. The site has been secured, a team of veterinarians has been dispatched and a post-mortem investigation is ongoing. Following that, cremation will take place,” the minister said, following the incident. Rane said that a mechanism needs to be worked out so that such incidents are not repeated. “We need to work out a mechanism to prevent such incidents in the future,” the minister said. Forest officials received information around 7.30am on Thursday that the carcass of a leopard was lying on the railway track near the forest at Padi in Quepem. The officials confirmed that the death occurred after the leopard was hit by a train. Such incidents are not uncommon. In October last year, a three-year-old female leopard was found to have died after it was hit by a train near Collem at Pokarmol-Kalem in Dharbandora taluka. The wild animals are believed to have died while trying to cross the tracks.

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Porvorim accident: 11 years on, Mumbai man acquitted
Times of India | 12 hours ago | 31-01-2023 | 04:01 am
Times of India
12 hours ago | 31-01-2023 | 04:01 am

Panaji: Eleven years after Mumbai resident Anuj Amarnath Jha allegedly rode in a rash and negligent manner in Porvorim, resulting in the death of his pillion rider, he has been acquitted by a North Goa court.The court found that the investigating officer did not record the statements of crucial and independent witnesses, many of whom had gathered at the spot of the accident.The owner of a four-wheeler had filed a complaint stating that as he was driving along with his son and daughter from Panaji to Siolim, a scooter came from the Mapusa side in speed and crossed the divider line and dashed into his car. The pillion rider, a 21-year-old resident of Mumbai, succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at GMC. The court found that the prosecution did not examine the daughter of the complainant and occupant of the four-wheeler and did not inquire who was driving the car at the time of the accident. The prosecution completely relied on the statement/version of the complainant “although people were present and had gathered at the spot”, the court observed.The prosecution admitted that there was no examination of any other independent witness besides the family members and occupants of the four-wheeler.“It is also pertinent to note that the road at the accident spot is a busy NH Highway, people were present and had gathered at the spot at the time of alleged accident,” the court said. “…however no independent witness has been examined by the IO/PW8 to prove that the accused rode his Aviator scooter in a rash and negligent manner so as to endanger human life and on account of which he dashed against the said car which resulted in the said accident or to prove that the accused was riding the said Aviator scooter in high speed.”An eyewitness, who “would have been the crucial witness in this matter”, who was proceeding in front of the four-wheeler on his motorcycle was also not examined.

Porvorim accident: 11 years on, Mumbai man acquitted