The sleuths of CID, Forest Cell, Bangalore, arrested 12 poachers and confiscated two muzzle loaders and large quantity of gun powder from them.

“The accused were trapped when they were in the process of killing deers and wild boars in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary covering Mandya, Chamarajnagar and Bangalore Districts,” said Mr K S N Chikkerur, IGP, CID, Forest Cell.

Two separate cases have been registered in Sathanur police station under the Wildlife Protection Act and Indian Arms Act against 11 persons. The arrest was carried out by a team headed by Police Inspector B K Umesh.“Efforts are on to trace the unlicensed weapons, which are being used by villagers in and around Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary to kill wild animals for meat and skin,” Mr Chikkerur said.