Forest department officials busted a poaching operation and seized 74 kg of wild meat near Bengaluru on Sunday. During the operation, officials seized carcasses of nine deer and one wild boar, along with two rifles, cartridges, two cars, and two motorbikes.
Based on a tip-off that a gang of poachers was hunting wild animals and selling meat, a car was inspected at the Bannerghatta-NICE Road junction in the city. An accused identified as Prathap, 31, was arrested after carcasses of four deer and a boar were found in the car. Based on his statement, a raid was carried out at a shed in CK Palya.
During the operation, officials seized carcasses of nine deer and one wild boar, along with two rifles, cartridges, two cars, and two motorbikes (Express Photo)
At the shed, the police found more carcasses of deer, a double-barrel gun, a single-barrel gun, 10 cartridges, one car, and two motorbikes.
Shed-owner Bheemappa and two other accused involved in the crime – Balaraju and Ramesh – are said to have fled from the spot ahead of the raid by the Forest department.
The accused were allegedly involved in poaching animals for meat in the forest areas near Bannerghatta National Park and in the Kolar district. A case was registered under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act.