Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Jan 24: Three individuals from Bhatkal and Shirur have been arrested for entering the forest at Vandaru and attempting to hunt wild animals. The forest department officials apprehended the suspects late last night.

During the operation, the officials seized one firearm, 11 wild animal traps, four sharp hunting knives, a machete used for processing meat, a torch, three mobile phones, and an autorickshaw used by the accused.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf alias Mavi (23) from Mundalli, Bhatkal, Waseem Akram (34) from Shirur, and Ali Bapu Yaseen (36) from Shirur. They have been remanded to judicial custody.

The operation was led by assistant forest conservator GD Dinesh and forest officers Prakash Poojary, Jyothi, Sandesh Kumar, Ganapathi V Naik, and staff from the Shankaranarayana, Siddapur wildlife, and Agumbe wildlife ranges.

The forest department has registered a case and is conducting further investigations.