Farm owner Manishankar Dave called the forest department, but before officials could come and investigate the poachers, they fled. Sources said, two persons had been hunting in the area for past few days. Rabbits, lizards and various types of small reptiles were been hunted, but this is the first incident of birds being killed.

According to forest department officials, the birds died after consuming poisonous grains. However, who is behind the act is a matter of investigation. "It appears that whoever killed the birds wanted to take away their carcasses, but as the villagers got a whiff of it, they fled," a forest officer said.

source: sandesh