The First Class Judicial Magistrate Court at Sulthan Bathery on Saturday remanded five persons arrested on charges of poaching to 15 days’ judicial custody.
Those accused were identified as Jose, 45, of Perumballikkunnel, at Seethamount; Dinesh, 37, of Valiyaparambil at Irulam; Selvan, 41, of Veetumpullil at Chethalayayam; Raji Thomas, 40, of Chandrathil, at Padichira and Saji, 40, of Idyakunnel at Kabanigiri in the district.
A team of forest personnel led by A. Anoopkumar, forest range officer, arrested them at the Pokalamalam forest on the border of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary on a tip off on Friday.
Those accused were charged under Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and Section 27 of Kerala Forest Act, 1961.
A horn of spotted deer, three country-made rifles, pellets, knives, iron cables to lay trap for wild animals, and head lights were seized from them.
The accused said they had killed a spotted deer from Pokalamalam forest a month ago. An autorickshaw used for transportation was also seized from them. — Staff Reporter
