MYSORE: In a joint operation, police and forest officials have arrested four persons, in connection with two elephant poaching cases on Male Mahadeshwara Hills recently. They have recovered a single barrel gun, four bullets and 200 gm of gun powder.
The arrested are Santhre Madaiah, Belulli Madaiah and Kumara, residents of Ramagondanahalli and Karana Belligondana Halli, near Poonachi village on Mahadeshwara Hills.
Kollegal forest range division and Madikeri division police forest cell arrested the four at their respective villages, based on information. The officials confirmed that all four belong to the Soliga community. They said another person, Chinnari alias Basamma, is absconding.
She allegedly helped the four in carrying out the crime. During interrogation, the four revealed that so far, they have killed four tusker elephants on the Hills, over a span of seven to eight years. In the past 10 days, the culprits have killed two elephants.Kollegal range DCF Kumar Pushkar and forest cell SP Jawahar headed the teams.
