CHITRAL: Two poachers of Kashmir markhor in Chitral Gol National Park were briefly arrested by the park staff with rifles here the other day.

Sub-divisional forest officer of Shoghore Range Iltaf Ali Shah told Dawn that the park staff spotted two young hunters from Aucho Gol village of Lotkoh valley roaming with automatic rifles in the national park, apparently to hunt down the wild goat.

He said the park staff caught hold of the two hunters when they were leaving the park boundary adjoining their village. They were identified as Sarwaruddin and Imtiaz Ahmed.

Mr Shah said the poachers had not fired any shot due to the presence of watchmen in the national park.

The alleged poachers, he said, agreed to pay a fine of Rs30,000 each for roaming with rifles in the national park and therefore, no case was registered against them.

Published in Dawn ,July 13th, 2015

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