Guwahati: In a shocking incident coinciding with World Environment Day, three YouTubers found themselves behind bars in Dhemaji district, Assam, for allegedly slaughtering rare wild birds and publicising the gruesome acts on their channel to boost viewership and subscriber counts. The arrests have ignited widespread outrage across the state.
Forest officials identified the apprehended individuals as Munindra Mushahary from Hastinapur and Maheshwar Swargiary along with Shiviram Swargiary, both hailing from Lamka village. The disturbing killings reportedly took place in the Pitoni region and Kardoiguri village within Simen Chapori, areas renowned for their vibrant avian life and crucial as nesting grounds for species such as the Lesser Whistling Duck, Water Crows, and Cormorants.
The accused allegedly employed slingshots to hunt the birds and plundered numerous eggs from their nesting sites. Videos uploaded to their YouTube channel, ‘JAKRUB’, graphically depicted the destruction of natural habitats and the brutal killing of the birds. The channel, at the time of the incident, reportedly boasted a substantial following.
The horrific content swiftly ignited a firestorm of public condemnation from environmentalists and netizens alike. Prompt action by forest officials, in coordination with the Simen Chapori Police, led to the swift apprehension of the trio under the Wildlife Protection Act. While 33 incriminating videos were deleted from the channel post-arrest, the forest department had already secured the clips as crucial evidence for prosecution.
A senior forest official expressed profound dismay, stating, “This incident is particularly disheartening as it occurred on a day dedicated to environmental preservation. We must amplify grassroots awareness regarding the critical importance of wildlife protection. Educational campaigns will be rolled out in local communities to avert such future occurrences.”
Police have launched a thorough investigation into the matter. If found guilty, the accused face potential imprisonment ranging from three to seven years under the stringent provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.