One absconding poacher in another case arrested

Hanagod: In separate cases, the Forest Department officials and staff have arrested two poachers, who had killed a deer at Veeranahosahalli Wildlife Range in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve and another poacher, who was absconding in another case, has also been arrested by the Forest staff.

In the first case, two poachers, who had hunted down a deer in Veeranahosahalli Wildlife Range in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, have been arrested.

The arrested poachers are Ravikumar alias Amase Ravi of Shindenahalli in Hanagod hobli and Raju alias Gunda of B.R. Kaval.

The Forest staff have seized the carcass of the deer, one single barrel gun, five live cartridges, one empty cartridge shell and one machete from them.

Details: Range Forest Officer (RFO) Vinod Gowda and staff, following information about poachers at Veeranahosahalli Wildlife Range, were patrolling the region at about 4 am on Tuesday when they heard a gunshot near the turning of Hosakatte Kere-Yerekatte Road, Yerekatte Beat of Chamalli Range.

The RFO and staff surrounded the place and arrested Ravikumar and Raju, during which their accomplices, identified as Sunil of Shindenahalli and M.B. Ganesh of Mudaganur,                                     fled from the spot.

The Forest staff then seized the carcass of the deer, gun and machete from the arrested poachers and handed them over to Judicial Custody, according to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) P.A. Seema.

DRFOs Naveen Kumar, Sahana V. Patil and K. Shilpa, Forest Rangers Venkatesh, Shamanth, Narayana and Avinash, Forest Watchers Shanthakumar, Shivakumar and Gayathri took part in the operation.

In the second case, the Forest officials and staff have arrested a poacher, who had fled from the spot and had absconding when the Forest staff raided the spot where poachers were preparing themselves to hunt wild animals.

The arrested poacher is Srinivas alias Dasa of Shindenahalli.

On Apr. 11 night, Srinivas, along with his accomplices, had entered Nagarahole Reserve Forest and was preparing to hunt wild animals at Veeranahosahalli Wildlife Range.

Acting on a tip off, the Forest officials and staff raided the spot and arrested Ramegowda alias Piteelu Rama during which other poachers, including Srinivas, fled from the spot.

Later, the Forest officials received information about Srinivas staying at Honnenahalli and under the guidance of Nagarahole Project Tiger Director P.A. Seema and ACF Lakshmikanth, raided the place and arrested Srinivas.

On inspecting his house, the Forest officials found five deer antlers, one barking deer antler and one wild boar jaw bone and seized them. Srinivas was later handed over to Judicial Custody.

Meanwhile, the Forest staff have launched a hunt to nab Yashwanth of Shindenahalli and Satish of Negathur, who are absconding, said ACF Lakshmikanth.

RFO Vinod Gowda, DRFOs Naveen Kumar, Sahana and Shilpa, Forest Rangers Venkatesh, Shamanth, Narayana, Shilpa and Avinash, Forest Watchers Gayathri, Shanthakumar and Shivakumar took part in the nabbing and seizing operation.