BELAGAVI: A 17-year-old boy died and another person suffered injuries when their animal-hunting mission went awry after their explosives-filled backpack exploded in a road accident in Belagavi district’s Khanapur taluk on Wednesday morning.
Police said deceased Girish Rajput and injured Shivakumar Rajput, 31, from seminomadic Hakki-Pikki tribe of Shivamogga district, had been camping in the deep forests of Khanapur for three months to hunt wild boar for meat trading.
Man, teen were riding into forest with 30 explosive balls in bag
The duo carrying 30 explosive balls in a backpack was riding into a forest on a bike when they crashed into a tractor around 9.30am, police said. The tractor ran over the pillion rider, Girish, triggering off quick explosions blowing up his body into pieces.
Police have booked Shivakumar under the Arms Act, but haven’t taken him into custody since he is undergoing treatment in hospital.
Trading in wild meat is illegal and rampant, police said, adding many poachers have been clandestinely visiting Ramadurga, Khanapur, Bhimgad and other forest ranges in this region to hunt boars by luring them with meat bombs.
Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbaragi told TOI that hunters sneak into forested regions of Uttara Kannada and Belagavi districts in September when the paddy crop is up for harvesting. In the night, they make meat bombs using gunpowder and gelatin sticks and keep them in the path of wild boars. When the animals fall for the bait, the bombs explode. In the morning, the hunters collect the meat.
Police sources said areas where meat hunters are active include Chamarajnagar and Kolar districts.