Eleven persons, including a software engineer working for a reputed IT company in Bengaluru, have been arrested by the Forest Department on the charge of hunting two sambar (deer) in Kemmannugundi forest area in Chikkamagaluru district, for their new year party.
Of the 11 arrested, four are from Bengaluru.
Forest Department officials recovered two vehicles, a carcass of one sambar, and 70 kg meat of another.
Although 12 persons were allegedly involved in the crime, only 11 were arrested.
Rafeek, a resident of Richmond Town in Bengaluru, is absconding.
Those arrested are Akhthar Ahmed (67), Mohammed Sameer Ahmed (29), both planters from Sakleshpur; Mohammed Rizwan (36) of Somwarpet in Kodagu; M. Ali (22); Meer Nair Ali (23); Meer Nazeer Ali (18), a student; Syed Aman (30), a software engineer; all residents of Bengaluru, and Arun (23), Prasanna (18), Chethan (26) and Harish (25), from a village near Kemmannugundi.
One animal slaughtered
The group is said to have gone hunting near Nettichowka village and gunned down the two animals. They slaughtered one and decided to leave the place as it was already dawn.
They were caught while transporting the carcasses in two vehicles, said a press release issued by the Forest Department.
The incident has raised concerns about the threat posed to wildlife by the urban populace visiting forest areas.
Activists working for wildlife protection who were also involved in the operation to nab the alleged hunters, have appealed to the Forest Department to take stern action to prevent hunting in the district.
In March 2014, the Forest Department had arrested seven poachers near Bababudangiri Hills in Chikkamagaluru taluk. The accused had shot at a deer.
