Forest department officials have arrested a man for allegedly smuggling deer meat in the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve’s Veeranhosahalli area.
The arrested individual, identified as 45-year-old Rudra from Bharatwadi Hadi in Hanagodu Hobali, was apprehended during a raid. Officials seized two kilograms of deer meat, deer hide, a motorcycle, and a mobile phone from him. Two other suspects, Ramu and Avvu from Kappanakatta Hadi, remain at large.
The raid was conducted based on a tip-off about illegal hunting activities near Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. Following this information, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Subramanya KE from the Hunsur wildlife division, Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Shivakumar of Anechokur zone, and a team of patrolling forest staff carried out the operation at Kiranguru Gate, leading to Rudra’s arrest.
Hunsur Wildlife Wing Forest Range Officer N. Subramanya stated, “After receiving the tip-off, we closely monitored the area. On Sunday evening, we intercepted a motorcycle at Kiranguru Gate and found deer meat in a gunny bag. The suspect was taken into custody, but two accomplices managed to flee.”
Rudra has been charged under the Karnataka Wildlife Protection Act, and authorities are actively searching for the fleeing suspects. The arrested individual has been presented before the Hunsur Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court and remanded to 14 days in judicial custody. Additionally, the motorcycle involved in the crime has been seized.
