Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia

Sullia, Aug. 7: Two persons were arrested by the Kodagu Koyanadu forest range officials on Wednesday for allegedly hunting and killing a wild animal in the Chembu Forest Range and possessing its meat.

The accused have been identified as Gautham of Chembu, Sharath of Peraje, and Yathin of Kadupanja.

According to forest officials, the accused allegedly hunted and killed a wild boar using a gun at Kadupanja in the Chembu forest, which falls under the Kodagu forest jurisdiction. They later packed the meat in plastic bags and transported it in a KA-12 registered Maruti Eeco car to Kaipadk near Kallugundi.

Acting swiftly on a tip-off, forest department personnel intercepted the vehicle and seized the wild boar meat, the gun used in the offence, and the car. Gautham and Sharath were arrested, while the third accused, Yathin of Kadupanja, is absconding. A search has been launched to trace and apprehend him.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Senthil Kumar (IFS), range forest officer Dincy Dechamma, deputy range forest officer Sreeraksha, along with Suresh, Sandeep Gowda, Vijendra Kumar, Vinay Krishna, and forest guards Yamanuri Koluru, Karthik D, Siddesh, Nagaraj S, Sidram Natikar, Srikanth Biradar, and other staff from the Sampaje range.