Raipur. A three-member investigation team constituted by Chief Forest Conservator cum Field Director Udanti Sita Nadi into the case of death of 17 Chosingo in the jungle safari between November 25 and 29 has given its report. It is noteworthy that Chosinga is a Schedule 1 endangered wild animal. In the jungle safari, five died on November 25, three on November 26, five on November 27, two on November 28 and two on November 29. 17 died yesterday.
Several employees of the Jungle Safari told the inquiry committee that on 25th, post-mortem of two or three Chsingas was done by Dr Verma and the remaining Chsingas were burnt without post-mortem (there were five deaths on 25th November). The investigation committee has concluded on the basis of the statements that all the records related to Chosinga who died were prepared by the doctors on the evening of 30th November. This is confirmed by the fact that in some of the post mortem reports the date was stated to be made on 25th November but Dr. Sonam Mishra, who was absent at the spot on 25th November, has also signed the post mortem report and Dr. Sonam stated that the post mortem was done on 26th November. She was also absent that day, which confirms Beck’s dating.
Dr. Rakesh Verma has also signed the post mortem reports of 27 November, 28 November and 29 November. While he was on leave from 26th November to 30th November. Dr Verma did not put the date below the signature and said in the statement that he had signed in the capacity of the State Level Health Advisory Committee. But the investigation committee found that the remaining members of the state level health advisory committee had only written ‘scene’ (seen) in the post mortem report. But the investigation committee concluded that Dr. Verma’s version was open to doubt and gave reason to believe that the records had been prepared in a back date and were signed in a hurry and without any thought and irresponsibility.
On 23rd November, Dr. Verma had asked for 4 days leave from 27th to 30th to go to Shirdi from the Director Jungle Safari but on 26th, the leave was rejected by the Director Jungle Safari due to the election code of conduct. Despite this, Dr. Verma remained on leave from 26 November to 30 November. Doctor Verma disobeyed the written order and became absent from duty. On November 26, Director cum Forest Divisional Officer Jungle Safari had called Dr. Verma and directed him to come to the safari immediately, keeping in mind the incident of Chosinga dying out of control. It is said that Dr. Verma had taken leave from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) on WhatsApp when the Director did not grant him leave. In this case, wildlife lovers are also blaming the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) that how did he approve the doctor’s leave without asking the operator Jungle Safari? If the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) had asked the operator, the operator would have told that Chesingas are dying in the jungle safari. Similarly, the second doctor of Jungle Safari, Dr. Sonam, had asked for leave from 25th November to 27th November, which was rejected, yet Dr. Sonam remained absent from 24th November to 26th November.
From 2:30 pm on 26th November till the morning of 27th November, no veterinary medicine was available in Nandanvan for treatment in June. Assistant Director AK Dahria was informed over telephone at 10:00 pm on 24th November about the critical condition of the wild animals, but he reached the spot after three days.
Do Verma told that the sample was collected by him on 25th and he himself went to leave it at the Veterinary College, Anjora Durg for testing, but according to the report of the Veterinary College, Anjora Durg, he got the sample on 28th November. The investigation committee found that Dr. Verma is deliberately uttering false words because Dr. Rakesh Verma had arbitrarily gone on leave without approval, leaving Chessinga, who was dying, in an emergency condition on 26th November.
The investigation committee found that Dr. Rakesh Verma took external help without taking the Director cum Forest Divisional Officer Jungle Safari into confidence and without giving any kind of information and on 26 November, he went to Jungle Safari with two external doctors who were registered by the National Zoo Development Authority. This is a very objectionable act within the scope of instructions and discipline issued.
Do Verma said in his statement that the time taken for post-mortem depends on the age, size and possible disease of the dead forest animal, yet the time taken for a post-mortem is at least half an hour and maximum 1 hour, where as the investigation committee Found that two post-mortem reports were prepared within 15 minutes.
