Seven held for poaching deer in Bandipur Tiger Reserve

TNN | Apr 18, 2020, 04:03 IST

Mysuru: Two poachers and their five associates were arrested on charges of poaching in Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Friday.
According to sources, foresters at Gopala Swamy Betta division received a tip-off from their counterparts in Gundlupet Buffer Zone at 5.30am over suspicious movement of a few persons in the region.
Following the tip-off, the foresters, along with patrolling staff, personnel of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) and staff of Madduru forest range intercepted two persons on a bike near Hosahalli Gudda at 5.45 am. The two men—Alumallaiah (39) and Rangaswamy (28) from Haggadahalla village—were questioned.
The foresters soon found that they were carrying 50 kg of deer meat in two bags. They revealed that they had laid a snare at Hirikere forest area and two deers were caught in the trap. They had removed the deer skin and were carrying the meat to give it to their associates to sell it to the customers, the officials said.
While the foresters were questioning the poachers, three persons – Nanja Shetty (40) of Haggadahalla village and Sidda Shetty (30) and Chenna Nayaka (30) of Lakkipura village– came to the spot from Hangala Hosahalli to collect the meat.
The foresters arrested all the five and seized 50 kg of meat, bike, one head of a stag and two heads of female deers, eight legs of deer, two deer pelts, 15 snares and a knife.
Later foresters arrested Nagaraja Shetty (60) and Mada Shetty (55) from Kodahalli village who were their associates. The foresters are looking for Chennamalla (35), Prabhu (27) and Naganna (42) from Haggadahalla village who are absconding.