Bike, torch, knives, plastic bags, other items seized

Hanagod: Forest Department officials and staff have arrested a poacher who had entered Veeranahosahalli Range in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Forest illegally and have seized a bike, torch, knives, plastic bags and other items from him.

The arrested poacher is Ramegowda alias Piteelu Rama, a resident of Hindagudli in Hanagod hobli. His accomplices identified as Srinivas alias Dasa of Shindenahalli village and Prajwal of Negatur, who too had entered the forest along with Ramegowda are absconding.

Following a tip off that poachers had entered the forest to hunt wild animals, a team of Forest officials and staff conducted an operation on Saturday midnight, during which they spotted Ramegowda parking his bike near the elephant trench and entering the forest at about 2.30 am during which the Forest officials and staff raided the spot.

While trying to flee, Ramegowda tripped and fell while Srinivas and Prajwal fled along with the gun in the cover of darkness.  

The Forest officials, who took Ramegowda into custody, produced him before a Court and have launched a hunt to nab Srinivas and Prajwal, said DCF Seema and ACF Lakshmikanth.

Deputy Range Forest Officers (DRFOs) Shilpa and Sahana Patil, Forest Patrolling staff Venkatesh, Shamanth, Avinash, Shilpa and Narayanarao, Forest Watchers Gayathri, Shivakumar, Shanthakumar and others took part in the operation.