The Forest Department arrested two poachers in a late-night operation inside the Nagarahole tiger reserve on Thursday and seized guns, live cartridges, and other materials from them.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of field director K.M. Narayanaswamy and ACF S.R. Prasanna Kumar. The accused, who were taken into custody, were identified as Samuel Manikyam from Ratnapuri Colony in Hunsur taluk, and Raju from Sindenahalli, also in Hunsur. The authorities have identified two other persons suspected to be part of the gang as Chetan Kumar and Sanju of Sindenahalli, who are absconding.
The forest staff have also seized the meat of a spotted deer, skull, skin, head torch, and knife from the accused. The accused were taken to the spot of the crime on Friday morning and recovered the deer skin from there. A four-wheeler used by them has also been seized.
Meanwhile, Samuel and Raju were produced in court and remanded in judicial custody and a forest offence case has been registered against them.
