ISLAMABAD: As many as 14 people were arrested within the limits of the industrial area police station for hunting wild boars.

Two wild boars were also recovered from the culprits, who were caught red-handed.

The hunters, who belonged to Chakwal, were freed after they paid a fine of Rs54,050.

It is pertinent to mention that, although there is a ban on hunting wild boars within the limits of the federal capital, various groups are involved in capturing these boars with the help of dogs, and then use them for gambling in rural areas.

An official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), requesting anonymity, said on Monday that he was tipped about a group of hunters who were catching boars in Sector H-8.

A team of the wildlife department (WLD) of CDA reached the area and saw a pick-up truck parked in the green belt.

“We saw that a wild boar was in the truck and, soon, the hunters brought another wild boar, which was tied to a bamboo,” he said.

When contacted, the range officer of WLD, Mehmood Alam Choudhry, confirmed that the operation took place. He also mentioned that the industrial area police were called for assistance with the arrests.

“Initially, it was decided to send the hunters to jail, but there is an option of imposing a fine, so they were released after they were fined Rs54,050, which was deposited in the exchequer,” he said.

The boars, however, were returned to the hunters, because one of the boars had already died and the other was critically injured, which could be dangerous for the local residents, he added.

An official of CDA, on account of anonymity, said there was ban on the hunting of boars without a licence; however, from time to time, licences were issued for hunting.

“As per the rules, a permit is issued to the hunters, but they have to get a character certificate and a weapons’ permit, which is issued by the deputy commissioner. There is no fee for the licenses,” he said.

“There are a number of people who have been involved in the hunting of the wild boars. They shift the boars to the rural areas, and then tie them with a rope. Then dogs are let loose on the boars, and people gamble on them,” he said.

He added that it is the duty of WLD to curb illegal hunting, but the department is highly understaffed and ill-equipped. Mehmood Alam Choudhry said that the police was requested for assistance with the arrests, due to the lack of officials in WLD.

“Luckily, the police reached on time; otherwise it would have been impossible to arrest 14 hunters. I also informed the director wild life, Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah, about the incident,” he said.

“While catching the boars, the dogs are also badly injured, so, it is a cruel game of hunting, and it should be stopped,” he said.

Station house officer of the industrial area police station, Haqim Khan, while talking to Dawn, said that the CDA officials sought help from the police, because the hunters were large in number.

“I sent a mobile vehicle to provide security to the CDA officials,” he said, adding that the issue was resolved, later, as the authority had the jurisdiction to impose the fine.