Crude bomb, deer antlers seized, 2 men arrested

Coimbatore: The forest department officials in the district conducted raids at six houses in and around Karadimadai and Periyanaickenpalayam on Saturday based on a tip that their occupants were involved in making country bomb (avuttukai) and arrested two people for possession of the same, spotted deer horns and wildlife hunting equipment. Officials have launched a manhunt for two others, who are on the run.
Officials have seized a country bomb, explosive materials (black powder) horns of nine spotted deer, which is an endangered species, an air gun, nine snares, two spears and three nets during the raid.
An official identified the arrested as M Selvam, of Moongil Madai Kuttai, and N Chinnaswamy of Viraliyur. While Selvam had four spotted deer horns at his house, Chinnaswamy and his brother N Duraisamy, who is still at large, were in possession of explosive materials used to make avuttukai and three spotted deer horns.
The official said they were also on the lookout for 30-year-old O Rengaswamy, of Karadimadai, who was in possession of the sole country bomb that they seized and two spotted deer horns.
Pointing out that both wild and domestic animals had died after avuttukai, which was often concealed in fruits and meat balls, went off in their mouths, the official said they were determined to crack down on the people who were making the same.
The teams were led by assistant conservator of forests Dinesh and Senthil. Each team comprised three forest range officers, foresters, forest guards, anti-poaching watchers and sniffer dogs from Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.
“The dogs were deployed to sniff out black powder and bombs. The black powder, which is also used for gun ammunition, is a mixture of sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate and usually stolen from mining sites,” the official said.
The officials also met the villagers at their doorsteps and requested them to refrain from making or using the crude bombs.
In another instance, the forest department has warned the people living along forest fringes of Sirumugai, Periyanaickenpalayam, Paruthi Kattu Malai, Kantha Vayal, Uliyur, Mokka Medu, Anna Nagar, Vedar Colony, Nayakkanpalayam, Poochiyur, Hi-tech city, Periya Thadagam, Mangarai and Thaneer Pandhal of heavy elephant movement. They have been advised not to venture out of their houses, ride two-wheelers and sleep outside their houses especially if they are near brick kilns, after darkness sets. They have been asked to contact the forest department if they spot any elephants close by.