Licence to kill: Animal welfare board asks Himachal govt to stop issuing permits

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said: “The letter is not in my knowledge. It is very clear that the provision for granting permits to kill wild animals that damage crops already existed in the Wildlife Protection Act and we have made no new provision.”

Talking to The Indian Express from Delhi,Kharb said: “In the brief acknowledgment from the state government,I have been assured against any illegal action by the state wildlife and government authorities.”

The letter reads: “The Wild Life Protection Act mandates issuance of such permits only in emergent conditions where ample proof is available,like reliable statistics of damage to crops,life and property.” Kharb has suggested relocation and creation of sanctuaries for such animals.

He said AWBI was a statutory body of the Government of India,which only had an advisory role and any legal action could only be taken by the law implementing agencies.

Gulati said: “We haven’t received any letter from any organisation. There is no plan to stop issuing permits to kill monkeys,neelgai,wild boars and other animals who damage crops. We are collecting the data of wild animals killed on the nearly 300 permits granted till last week.”

Kuldeep Tanwar,president of Kheti Bachao Sangaharsh Samiti,said,“The animal rights organisations should not put animal rights above the rights of marginal farmers,but think in terms of solution to the problem. Farmers picked up guns when all other measures failed.”