Imphal, July 5 -- Residents of Ishok village near Loktak Lake in Manipur's Bishnupur district have imposed a blanket ban on the hunting of the endangered hog deer with violators facing fines of up to Rs 5 lakh and legal action by the Forest Department.

The decision was taken at a stakeholders' meeting attended by village residents, civil society organisations and officials of the Bishnupur Forest Division at Chingphu Ningthou Shembi Leima Haraobung.

The meeting also resolved to prohibit poaching of other protected wildlife and adopted a series of measures aimed at safeguarding the hog deer population and its habitat.

Under the resolutions, anyone found hunting or killing a hog deer or other protected wildlife will be fined up to Rs 5 l...