Aizawl, May 28: The Mizoram forest department today downplayed the case against state excise minister K. K. Vanlalauva?s, indicted for having killed and feasted on a barking deer, saying it was a ?minor one?.
Though government officials refused to comment, an assistant conservator of forests said the offence for which Vanlalauva has been indicted was ?minor and punishable at most by a fine of Rs 2,000?.
Chief minister Zoramthanga, also an invitee to the feast at Vanlalauva?s home in which the venison was served, said he had no comment on the court directive.
?Since I have not been officially informed of this matter nor seen the court order, I have no comment at present,? Zoramthanga said. The chief minister had earlier said he had attended the function not knowing that he was ?doing anything wrong?.
On May 26, the Gauhati High Court had instructed the Mizoram government to take appropriate action against the excise minister.
Vanlalauva, when contacted, was taken aback because he thought that ?the case had been disposed of? after the Mizoram forest department had issued a statement saying the minister was not liable to be pulled up for the offence. ?The forest department had issued a statement which said the man who had caught the deer was liable to be booked for the offence and not me. I, therefore, assumed that the case against me had been dropped,? he added.
Hranghleikapa of Pulsek village had presented a young barking deer to Vanlalauva on June 14, 2000 when the minister was touring his Khawbung constituency in Champhai district.