DHADING: A central leader of Nepal Students Union (NSU), student wing of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC), has been arrested on charge of poaching in Dhading.

Shubharam Basnet, also the President of Free Students Union of the Kathmandu-based Shankar Dev Campus, was held with possession of a carcass of deer and a rifle from Thankre of the district yesterday.

According to police, Basnet and five others were trying to smuggle the game on a SUV (Na 2 Cha 4057) to Kathmandu.

A 22-magnum rifle and 19 bullets were also confiscated from the Pajero.

The other arrestees include Harish Bhandari, Roshan Khadka and Raman Rai of Kathmandu, Chandra Gadaili of Dhanusha and Madan Thapa of Tanahun.

Acting Chief of the District Forests Office Krishna Prasad Adhikari suspected that Basnet’s gang poached the animal in a community forest along the Prithvi Highway in Thankre.

Basnet was returning from an NSU function in Baglung.

But, he had stopped near Aathkilo of Thankre and entered into the jungle with the rifle, locals said.

Locals even claimed that Basnet at first tried to settle the case by offering them Rs 25,000 after they threatened to report the case with police and forest officials.

DSP Prakash Malla of the District Police Office said the rifle that Basnet carried was licensed. “But, it is wrong to possess the rilfe always with you,” he said.

Earlier in March, police had arrested Basnet and his friends in possession of illegal arms in Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, the District Forests Office said on Tuesday that police received the District Court order to remand Basnet and his gang for 10 days in custody for the investigation.

Acting Chief of the Forests Office Adhikari said the office has assigned Assistant Forests Officer Binod Kumar Regmi for investigation.

He informed that the six will be charged under the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973.

DSP Malla said Basnet already confessed that he hunted the wild animal.

Forests officials in the district said they received phone calls from ‘various persons’ requesting not to further the case but create a proper environment for Basnet’s release.

NSU President for action against Basnet

Meanwhile, lawmaker and President of NSU Ranjit Karna also demanded stern action against Basnet.

Arguing that a student leader should not be involved in illegal acts, he said the NSU will also take departmental action against Basnet.

However, the NSU had demonstrated intense protests against police authority when it arrested Basnet in possession of arms in March.