Three poachers arrested

Madikeri, Karnataka, Dec 12 (UNI) Forest sleuths have arrested three persons, including two from Kerala, on the charge of poaching and recovered deer skin and meat from them, yesterday.

Forest department sources said the sleuths conducted a raid at Chennagi forest range at Pollibetta and effected the arrest of Chippa Poonacha of Chennagi, Shashi and Idukki Babu of Kerala.

A country-made gun, manufactured in Kerala, was also seized from them. The gun, which could be dismantled into 17 pieces, was capable of gunning down an elephant from even 400 ft away.

The sources said the trio, said to have inter-state links, were hired to kill animals by Kerala-based poachers.

UNI XR GD TS1659