Palghar, Maharashtra: A fatal hunting accident in Palghar, Maharashtra, resulted in one villager dead and another injured after they were mistaken for wild animals. During an amateur hunt in the Borsheti forest, one man was fatally shot, while another sustained injuries, both victims of an accidental shooting by a member of their own group. The incident, which occurred on January 28 in the Borsheti forest, remained a secret for several days until local residents informed the Manor Police Station on February 3. One of the two men who were accidentally shot during the hunting trip was found dead in the forest, with his body recovered by the police. The other, who sustained injuries from the shooting, allegedly succumbed to his wounds and was cremated in his village. This incident has sparked outrage in Palghar district, exposing the common use of village knives for hunting in rural areas.
A group of amateur hunters from the villages of Borsheti, Kirat, Raote, and Akoli had ventured into the forest to hunt wild boars, which are known to frequent the area. Equipped with hunting gear, including guns and knives, along with cooking supplies, they ventured into the forest near Alan Dongra, a known watering hole for both striped tigers and large wild boars. The group dispersed, with some hunters stationed on the ridge of a hill and others perched in trees, waiting for the animals to appear.
As the rest of the group stealthily approached, they moved in complete darkness, refraining from using flashlights or making any noise. Just before midnight, a sound alerted the hunters. A gunman positioned on the hill fired a shot after mistaking the sound of approaching hunters for an animal. The gunfire tragically struck 60-year-old Ramesh Wartha, who died on the spot. The bullet also hit another hunter, Anya Mahaloda, wounding his leg.
Fearing the consequences of the accidental shooting, the group decided to hide Ramesh’s body behind some bushes in the forest. Four members of the group took Mahaloda, who continued to bleed, to his home in Shigaon Patilpada. Despite his condition, it is alleged that Mahaloda was not taken to a clinic or hospital. It is reported that he died on January 31, and his body was cremated in the village without informing the authorities.
The Manor Police Station was notified of the incident on February 3, prompting an investigation. After an extensive search on Wednesday, the authorities recovered the highly decomposed body of the victim and sent it for a postmortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of the death. On the other hand, the family of Anya Mahaloda claims that he died of natural causes, although the police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Eight people have been detained so far in connection with the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.
“Ramesh Wartha’s body has been recovered, and we currently don’t suspect foul play in his death,” stated Palghar Superintendent of Police (SP) Balasaheb Patil. “We have eight individuals in custody and are investigating to determine their level of involvement. We have also recovered the firearm used in the incident,” said Patil.
Regarding the delay in reporting the incident, Patil explained, “These individuals are known hunters who frequently go on extended trips. Villagers initially assumed they would return shortly. When the victim remained missing until January 31, a search began the next day, and a missing report was finally filed on February 3. We immediately detained several individuals, and their interrogation revealed the details of this incident.”
The police have expressed concern over the growing use of village knives and other illegal hunting methods in rural areas, especially in forests like Borsheti, which are home to large wild animals such as tigers and wild boars. The authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the illegal hunting network operating in the area and to ensure that such tragic incidents do not occur again.
