JOIN US Weeks after a few techies were caught poaching sambar deer at Nethichowka in Bhadra Reserve Forest, another incident of poaching sambar deer came to light late Friday night.
Forest officials arrested Arjun and Shashi, residents of Dhoopadakhan on charges of hunting down a four-year-old sambar at Thanigebailu range of Bhadra Tiger Reserve Forest in Tarikere of Chikkamagaluru district. Prime accused Manja escaped with firearms used for hunting.
The arrested were produced before the JMFC court in Tarikere, which remanded them in 14 days’ judicial custody. After hunting the sambar, they shared the meat at a house near Dhoopadakhan. Based on a tip-off, the forest officials raided the house and arrested the two and seized the meat, pelt, weapons used for hunting, vessels and barbecue apparatus. The officials are searching for the deer’s head.
During interrogation, the duo confessed to poaching the animal 20 days ago. The suspects are professional poachers and were involved in hunting for the last two years. They were targetting animals straying near coffee estates in search of water and food, said the officials.