Kollegal: Forest Department officials have arrested a man on charges of poisoning seven Asiatic Wild Dogs (Dholes), which are listed in Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, at Hittaladoddi village in Kollegal and have handed him over to judicial custody.

The arrested is 39-year-old Rajanna, a labourer from Hittaladoddi Arepalya village.

On May 27, Forest staff received a call and the caller informed them about dead wild dogs lying in the land (Survey No. 492) belonging to Government Land Revenue Department at Kunagalli village on the road leading to Hittaladoddi village, following which the Forest Department officials and staff including the Veterinarian rushed to the spot.

Post-mortem was conducted at the spot during which it came to be known that these protected animals were poisoned following which a case under Wildlife Protection Act: 2(16), 3(32), 2(36), 9, 39 R/w 51 was registered and an investigation was conducted.

On May 29, under the guidance of DCF G. Santosh Kumar and ACF B.S. Shashidhar, Kollegal RFO U.G. Bharath, DRFO P. Deepak Mahalingam and Beat Forest Watcher Ninganna Bheemarao Hugar arrested accused Rajanna and handed him over to judicial custody.