Udhagamandalam: Three people were arrested by the forest department on Friday in connection with poisoning five wild dogs to death at Vibuthimalai near Bokkapuram in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR)-buffer zone in September last.
The accused were identified as D Sivan, M Ramesh and M Madevan, all residents of Bokkapuram.
After the five wild dogs were found dead, a case was registered, and a report was submitted to the judicial magistrate in Gudalur by the forest department.
“Samples of the carcasses of the wild dogs were taken and sent for forensic analysis. The result showed presence of poison in the samples,” deputy director of MTR-buffer zone LCS Srikanth said.
He said, “DNA analysis suggested that the contents in the stomachs of the dogs were of deer meat. Hence, we continued investigation in this connection.”
Based on information and intelligence received, a team of forest officials apprehended the three accused from Bokkapuram Thakkal area on Thursday, according to the official. “During inquiry, the accused confessed that they had poisoned the wild dogs to death,” Srikanth said.
All the three were arrested on Friday. Later they were remanded in judicial custody. Two other people were involved in hunting deer for meat. The two accused were identified as J Mohan and J Komban, both residents of Bokkapuram.