Members of an ‘inter-State gang of poachers’ allegedly shot dead a spotted deer in Lankapalli reserve forest area under Penuballi range in Khammam division on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
On a tipoff, a team of Forest Department personnel rushed to the spot and apprehended two of the five members of the gang allegedly involved in poaching in the Lankapalli area, which has a rich density of wildlife.
The remaining members of the gang fled the scene leaving behind a Scorpio vehicle belonging to Adilabad district.
The officials seized the carcass of the deer as well as an air gun and a Scorpio.
The arrested persons were identified as S. Chitti Babu of Mylavaram in Krishna district and S. Srinivas Rao of Bhavannapalem in Khammam district, according to sources.
A case under the Wildlife Protection Act has been registered against the two persons, said V.S.N.V. Prasad, Divisional Forest Officer, Khammam.
The Scorpio vehicle used by them for poaching belongs to Mancherial town in Adilabad district, he said, adding that efforts were on to nab those who fled from the spot.
