A fishing cat has been brutally killed with a fish spear in Chuadanga, and a video of the killing was spread on social media.

Police have arrested one person over the incident; the other two are still on the run. The incident took place on the afternoon of 21 March in Dhanyaghara village of Kurulgachhi union in Damurhuda upazila.

The video shows three young men killing the wild animal by striking it with a spear. After it went viral on Facebook, anger spread, and once the incident became known the administration acted quickly.

According to local sources, at about 5.30pm on 21 March, Md Alamgir Hossain (30), son of Shahidul Islam of Dhanyaghara village; Mintu, son of Harun Kalta; and Md Saiful Islam, son of Iman Ali, together brutally killed a fishing cat.

After the video went viral, Shah Md Farhad Hossain, member and panel chairman of Kurulgachhi union parishad, reported the incident to the upazila nirbahi officer and the upazila forest officer.

At 10.30am on Saturday, 22 March, the cat was buried in the presence of the upazila nirbahi officer, the assistant commissioner (land), the officer-in-charge (OC) of Darshana police station, the upazila forest officer and local people. Residents condemned the incident and praised the administration's quick action.

Upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Tithi Mitra said killing wildlife is a serious crime and strict legal action will be taken against such cruel acts.

Upazila forest officer Mizanur Rahman said action will be taken against the accused under the wildlife conservation law, and efforts are under way to bring those still at large to justice quickly.

Muhammad Shahid Titumir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Darshana police station, said the accused Md Alamgir Hossain (30) had been arrested. "The other two accused, Mintu and Saiful Islam, are still absconding. Drives to arrest them are continuing," he said.

Under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012, killing or harming any wild animal is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of Tk 1 lakh, or both.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.