India, Jan. 4 -- The last few days of 2025 proved eventful for the Punjab forests and wildlife preservation department. A conscience-shocking video of a female Sambar with her face blasted on December 26 finally stirred the department to crack down. Om Prakash, a resident of Naya Nangal, was arrested the next day and from him two jaw pieces of wild animals and two explosive contraptions were recovered. Prakash was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by additional civil judge Nidhi Saini after he was booked under Sections 9, 39, 49 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, (amended 2022).

Before going to lock-up, Prakash's questioning opened a Pandora's box of poaching using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) coated in wheat flo...