CHITWAN, May 29 -- In the past, the number of people serving jail terms for wildlife crimes was comparatively more than those committing social crimes. Until a few years ago, Bharatpur jail had earned the recognition of "a jail for rhino poachers and hunters."
However, in recent years, the jail has had more inmates inmates sentenced for social and criminal offenses than those booked for wildlife crimes. Of the 720 prisoners that the jail had during mid-April to mid-May, 166 were convicted on drugs-related charges.
Rambabu Shrestha, information officer at the prison, informed Republica that 153 of the prisoners are rape convicts. Similarly, there are currently only 94 inmates in the prison who have been jailed for committing wildlife crime...