AGARTALA, Sep 27 (TIWN): The Kalyanpur police on Monday arrested one person for killing a rare species bird, Hornbill.The incident took place at Kalimata brick kiln adjacent to Kalyanpur Satsang.

Reportedly, on Monday morning at 7 o'clock, a brick kiln worker killed the hornbill with a slingshot. The person is identified as Fuljames Axa (45). His home is in Jharkhand. He committed the crime with the intention of eating meat around 6 am on Monday. Environmentalists and animal lovers of the area used to keep an eye on this bird. They rescued the dead bird and informed the forest department. After receiving the news, Forest Range Officer of Kalyanpur Forest Department Bikash Ghosh reached the spot around 7 am. He rescued the bird and arrested the accused Fuljames Axa.

He said that this rare species of bird is included in Schedule One. The officer also said that there were two male and female hornbill in the area and they were very friendly with the locals. A case has been registered against the accused under Section 2/9/51 of the Forest Act, 1972 and Clause B of Sub-Section 2. He was sent to Khowai court on Monday.

The killing of one of the two rare species of cormorant with a slingshot has caused a stir in Kalyanpur. Local animal and environmentalists who used to see and hear the two wild birds are sad. The real name of this cormorant is Oriental Pied Hornbill. The forest officials also said that autopsy of the bird will be done.