By Our Correspondent
Humla, Jan. 13: Police have handed over illegal seized meat of protected animal Himalayan Tahr (Jharal) killed after its hunting to the Division Forest Office for further investigation.
The District Headquarters, Simkot-based Police Office submitted the seized meat to the Forest Office for further investigation to trace the hunters involved in its killing.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Herambh Sharma said that the police had recovered the meat from Jaini National Forest of Namkha Rural Municipality-4 and handed it over to the forest office.
He said that a team led by police inspector has reached the spot to investigate into the matter separately from their side.

The Division Forest Office has said that their separate team will also conduct investigation under the Forest Act to know the persons allegedly involved in its hunting. The meat was seized in a condition almost ready to sell after its barbeque.
Acting Forest Officer Lok Jung Shahi said that the seized meat has arrived in the office and kept in a sealed condition for investigation.

He said that Assistant Forest Officer Pratima Paneru has been assigned for the investigation in coordination with the Chief District Officer as there is a problem in carrying out the investigation due to lack of provincial law.
Paneru said that they would immediately go to the spot and submit the report to the Forest Office.

Some locals of Namkha-4 village have been accusing the Himalayan Tahr was killed by the police themselves. However, police have been denying the allegation.
Chief District Officer Ganesh Acharya said that the matter will be cleared only after receiving the report of the police inspector's team.

He said that all the bullets fired by the police to kill the Himalayan Tahr of the Police Post, Muchu were kept safe and the initial report showed that the police guns could not be matched.
The Himalayan tahr was killed within the protected area.