Gun, knives, chopper, deer heads and meat seized

Madikeri: Virajpet Police Forest Mobile Squad has arrested two persons on charges of poaching two deer and transporting the meat and have seized two deer heads, 44 kg deer meat, one gun, knives, chopper  and a car used for transporting the meat.

Those arrested have been identified as 45-year-old M.M. Azeez, owner of a bakery at Virajpet and resident of Betoli village and 32-year-old C.A. Hussain alias Jamsheer, an auto driver and a resident of Nehru Nagar.

On Nov. 3, Police Forest Mobile Squad Sub-Inspector M.C. Muthanna received information about deer meat being transported illegally in a Toyota Innova SUV from Perumbady in Virajpet towards Bittangaala following which the SUV was intercepted near Heggala.

During the inspection of the SUV, the Forest staff found 44 kgs deer meat, two deer heads stuffed in a plastic bag, one single barrel gun, knives and chopper following which the Forest staff arrested the accused on the spot and seized the Innova SUV (KA-02-MA-7011) in which the deer meat was being transported.

Azeez (Ajju) of Chamiyala Mythadi, Ashraf and Shiyab of Betoli Gundigere, who are also accused in this case are  absconding.

The arrested were booked under Sections 1, 3 and 25 of Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 which came into force from April 1, 2023 and under Indian Weapons Act. It is suspected that the accused had poached the two deers in Makutta  Reserve Forest.