Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, May 23: Two persons, who were trying to sell black buck pelt at Dharmasthala were arrested on Friday May 22. This operation was conducted by the policemen of forest mobile squad from Puttur range.
After police sub-inspector, Umesh Uppalige, gathered reliable information about the fact that someone was trying to sell black buck pelt at Dharmasthala, this raid was conducted. Two persons, identified as Rudrappa (25) from Hosadambala House in Mundaragi taluk, Gadag district, and Kashappa (25) from the same village, were taken into custody from near the public toilets located by the side of the parking lot at the main arch of Dharmasthala.
These two were found to be in possession of a 53 inches long an 41 inches wide black buck pelt, which was hidden inside clothes and placed in the hand bag. Initially, the two insisted that their bags contained only their own clothes, but a thorough inspection found that the pelt had been concealed among the clothes. Black buck skin is hard to get and commands high price, it is said.
During the questioning, both confessed that they had brought the pelt for sale, and were searching for prospective buyers. They were arrested and produced in the court, after which they were remanded to 15 days judicial custody. The policemen are yet to ascertain whether they had hunted down the animal and skinned it, or bought it from some others who had killed a black buck.