Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur

Kundapur, May 23: Forest department officials have arrested four persons in connection with the killing of a leopard in the Dottinabailu reserve forest area of Siddapur village under the Shankaranarayana forest range.

The arrested accused have been identified as Manjunath Shetty of Salimakki in Yedamoge village, Nadeem Karani of Kandlooru in Kavradi village, and Nagaraj Bovi and Venkataramana Bovi, both residents of Hanebachalu in Yedamoge village.

Officials said they have seized four leopard claws, pieces of bones, a gun, five live bullets and two motorcycles from the accused.

A case had been registered in the Shankaranarayana range after a leopard was found killed and dumped near the Siddapur-Shivamogga district road on February 4.

As part of the investigation, Shankaranarayana range forest officers and staff arrested accused Manjunath Shetty on Thursday and questioned him. Based on the information provided by him, the remaining three accused were arrested.

Officials said two more accused involved in the case are absconding and a search operation is underway to trace them.

The arrested accused were produced before the Kundapur principal civil judge and JMFC court.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Kundapur division deputy conservator of forests Ruthren P Shankaranarayana range forest officer Sandesh Kumar and staff, Kundapur range staff, Byndoor range staff, and Kandlooru Rural police station inspector Niranjan Gowda and personnel participated in the operation.

The investigation was conducted in the presence of Kundapur division additional assistant conservator of forests and technical assistant to the deputy conservator of forests P Sridhar.