Warning: Sensitive content in this article. Viewer discretion advised.
Story:
Today a West Bengal Forest Officer Killed a Deer.
Spread this video around so that you can be jailed.
Other Versions
(Bengali)
মাননীয় মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর দৃষ্টি আকর্ষণ করছি। আপনি যাদেরকে রক্ষক হিসেবে বেতন দিচ্ছেন, তারাই ভক্ষক হয়ে শেষ করে দিচ্ছে সুন্দর বনের সৌন্দর্য্য, আজকে একটা প: ব: ফরেস্ট অফিসার একটা হরিণ কে মেরে দিল।
এই ভিডিও টা চারিদিকে ছড়িয়ে দিন যাতে জেল হয়
(Hindi)
पश्चिम बंगाल में वन सेवा का अधिकारी हिरण को गोली मारके फोटोशूट कर रहा हैं ..
ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा शेयर करो ..इसे जेल भेजो..
Fact Check:
A disturbing video is in circulation on social media alleging to show a West Bengal Forest Officer Shot and Killed a Deer before cutting slit its throat with a knife. Accompanying messages raise concern saying the people paid to take care of the animals in forest are killing the beautiful creatures. They also tell viewers to share the video as much as possible so that the forest officer can be jailed. Although the video is real, the accompanying claims as such are not true, explained here.
Image of the story on Facebook – Bengal Forest Officer Killed Deer 
Image of the story on Twitter
About the Disturbing Video
The video in question is doing rounds on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms. Over two minute in length, the video shows a man first feeding a herd of Deer which came near him. Then he aims at the deer and shoots down one with a gun holding in his hand. The Deer struggles for a while before collapsing onto the ground. Immediately, couple of men run towards it and slit its throat with a knife. Then two men with guns take photographs posing in front of the dead deer – as a sign of victory in hunting. The stories in circulation became popular because in India, hunting the Deer is a non-bailable offence according to Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Not a West Bengal Forest Officer Who Killed the Deer
Yes, the man in the video is not a West Bengal forest officer and the incident is not even from India. The Daily Star website thedailystar.net reported about the incident on 12th July 2015 with a title – Who is the beast? The incident took place in Hillsdale Farm, in Chittagong city of Bangladesh. The article mentioned the hunter’s name Moin Uddin, adding he uploaded the video on Facebook on 4th July. The video on Facebook garnered lot of criticism from viewers. One user commented saying “Killing an animal in a confined place in such a way is not hunting at all. It’s out-and-out brutality.” You can see a longer version of the same video below.
The Daily Star article reported about ‘Bangladesh Spotted Deer Rearing Policy 2009’ saying an adult deer can be killed for meat, adding Department of Forest officials have to be notified about it in advance. The article mentions Chittagong divisional forest officer saying nobody contacted the local authorities before killing the deer. Officials also mentioned the Hillsdale Farm manager did not show any license when they raided and seized all 16 deer after the incident.
The Man’s Response
Next day on 13th July 2015, Moin Uddin shared his response to the incident in a Facebook post. He said he is a Bangladeshi born Australian, a foreign investor in Bangladesh building a farm in Chittagong called “Hillsdale Multi Farm.” He also said he is fully licensed and has the permission to consume an adult deer. After further explanation of the incident, he apologized to the viewers for sharing the disturbing video on Facebook.
So, the incident in the video took place in a farm in Chittagong city of Bangladesh – not in West Bengal forest area of India.
Update: 19th November 2019
The aforementioned video is also doing rounds online with another false claim saying a BJP MLA Anil Upadhyay is hunting and killing the deer publicly.
BJP MLA Anil Upadhyay hunting and killing a deer publicly..
పబ్లిక్ గా జింకలను వేటాడుతున్న బీజేపీ MLA Anil Upadhyay
As a matter of fact, there’s no BJP MLA Anil Upadhyay. The fictitious name was earlier used in another false story claiming to show the BJP MLA beating a Dalit boy on road – for purchasing a luxurious car.
Hoax or Fact:
Mixture of Hoax and Facts.
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