1.05 kg pangolin scales, bike, electronic weighing machine, mobile phone seized

Mysuru: The Forest Mobile Squad personnel have arrested a man who was attempting to sell pangolin scales and have seized 1.05 kg of pangolin scales, a yellow colour bag, Bajaj Discover bike (KA-12-K-3755), one electronic weighing machine and one mobile phone from him.

The accused has been identified as 50-year-old M. Mallikarjunagowda, a Kannada teacher at the Government Higher Primary School in Medhini village, Talakad and a resident of Kalabasavanahundi village, Talakad hobli, T. Narasipur taluk in Mysuru district.

Following a tip off that a man was trying to sell pangolin scales near Nanjanayapura village, Boppagowdanapura hobili, Malavalli taluk of Mandya district, the Forest Mobile Squad personnel, led by Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Chandrashekargowda C. Patil, raided the spot on Nov. 19 and arrested Mallikarjunagowda, seized the pangolin scales and other things from him.

During interrogation, the accused is said to have told the Forest Department personnel that 55-year-old Alimuthu (Accused-1), a resident of Tamil Colony near Maarigudi, M.G. Doddi village, Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district, had killed the pangolin, consumed the meat and had given him the scales to sell it.

It is learnt that the accused had made a deal of Rs. 50 lakh with a person from Kerala for the pangolin scales and was waiting for him, when the Forest personnel arrested him. Accused Mallikarjunagowda has been remanded to Judicial Custody and the Forest personnel have launched a hunt to nab Accused-1 Alimuthu, who has gone absconding.

DCF Chandrashekargowda C. Patil guided RFOs K. Surendra and Sachin, DRFOs C.S. Mohan and V. Muthuraju, Forest Guards Devaraja Bandivaddar, Kumar, Tirupathi Pujar and Imamsaab in the nabbing and seizing operation.