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Poaching crackdown near Bannerghatta: One arrested, Deer meat and firearms seized
The forest officials in Bengaluru have arrested a man involved in the illegal hunting of deer for meat. The team also seized two cars, a bike, firearms, and a large quantity of venison.
Acting on confirmed intelligence received by the minister, which indicated that a poaching gang was killing deer in the Kolar and Bannerghatta forest ranges for commercial meat sales, forest department officials and staff launched a coordinated raid.
During the operation conducted jointly by the Bengaluru Urban Forest Division and a vigilant patrol team, a car bearing registration number KA 05 AG 1302 was intercepted near the Bannerghatta-NICE Road junction.
The inspection revealed four dead spotted deer and a wild boar being transported in the vehicle. The accused, identified as 31-year-old Pratap, was taken into custody on the spot.
Further interrogation led the officials to a shed in CK Palya, where more deer carcasses and meat were stored. A follow-up raid resulted in the seizure of an additional bike, an Indica car, nine deer carcasses in total, one wild boar, approximately 74 kilograms of venison, a double-barrel gun, a single-barrel gun, and 10 live cartridges.
The shed owner, Bheemappa, along with two other accused—Balaraju and Ramesh—are currently absconding. A manhunt has been launched to trace and arrest them. Authorities have registered a case under the Wildlife Protection Act and initiated further legal proceedings.
The operation was led by Chief Conservator of Forests Sivasankar, Deputy Conservator of Forests Ravindra Kumar, and Assistant Conservator of Forests Ganesh.
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Karnataka Wild Life Protection Act 1972 Click here