Chamarajanagar: In separate cases, Forest Department personnel, who conducted operations at Punajnur Wildlife Range in the taluk and in Kothanur Forest area in Kollegal taluk, have arrested a total of five poachers and have seized deer meat, deer pelt, sandalwood billets and two mopeds from them.

Chamarajanagar:  Forest staff of BRT Tiger Reserve, have arrested two poachers at Punajnur Wildlife Range who were smuggling deer meat and sandalwood billets and have seized 35 kg deer meat, 6,400 grams sandalwood billets and a TVS XL Super moped from them.

The arrested are 52-year-old Bommegowda alias Bomma of Yethegowdanadoddi in the taluk and 45-year-old Raghavendra Nayak of Mookanapalya village.

Acting on a tip off, the Forest staff conducted an operation and arrested Raghavendra, who was transporting deer meat and sandalwood billets on his moped.

During interrogation, Raghavendra is said to have revealed Bommegowda’s name, following which the Forest staff proceeded to arrest him during which Bommegowda allegedly assaulted a forest staff. He was later arrested and both the accused have been remanded to judicial custody, said Punajnur Range Forest Officer Nisar P.K. Ahmed.

Kollegal: Kothanur Forest officials have arrested three poachers, who had hunted down a deer and were smuggling the wild animal’s pelt. The Forest staff have seized the pelt and a TVS moped from them.

The arrested are 53-year-old Madappa of Rachappaji Nagar in the taluk, 53-year-old Holasala and 32-year-old Krishna of Sundralli village.

The accused were produced before a Magistrate, who remanded them to judicial custody.

Kothanur Range Forest Officer Shashikumar, Sunil and staff took part in the operation.