Poacher shot dead by forest dept personnel in Bandipur tiger reserve, hunt on for gang

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: A suspected poacher has been shot dead by Forest department personnel during exchange of fire between them and a gang of eight to ten poachers in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, in the wee hours of Sunday.

The incident took place near Maddur checkpost in Gundlupet taluk. According to officials, the deceased person has been identified as Manu(27) of Bheemanabeedu village of Gundlupet taluk.

This is said to be the first of its kind incident of fire exchange between forest department officials and poachers reported in the tiger reserve. The department personnel has recovered a country pistol and dismembered parts of a sambar deer from the spot and investigations are going on.

During the routine patrolling, the forest department personnel who heard sounds of gunshots in the forest in the wee hours, rushed to the spot along with anti poaching camp personnel.

Speaking to NT, deputy conservator of forests and Bandipur tiger reserve project director Dr Rameshkumar said that his department personnel retaliated to the exchange of fire when a gang of eight to ten poachers attacked them with country pistols for their safety.

In the melee, one poacher who received the gunshots died on the spot and other gang members escaped under the cover of darkness. Under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, killing wild animals and selling or possessing animal articles such as their claws, skin or horns is a criminal offence, he said.

The gang members were from Hongalli and surrounding villages nearby where poaching takes place for meat on the forest periphery. ‘’But on Sunday the gang was found inside the core area of the forest’’, he said.

Both forest and police department officials have launched a manhunt to nab poachers who escaped from the scene.

On receipt of information, Chamarajanagar superintendent of Police Padmini Sahu, Gundlupet tahasilder T Rameshbabu, assistant conservator of forests A Ravindra and others inspected the spot.