COIMBATORE: An ex-service man and his accomplice were arrested from a reserve forest while attempting to poach wild boars on Saturday near Anaikatti which falls under the Periyanaickenpalayam forest range. The forest officials have seized two licensed guns from them and are intensifying the patrolling in the areas.
They were identified as R Sakthivel, 34, of Uppilipalayam near Singanallur and M Balamurugan, 37, of Arch Nagar in Peelamedu. Sakthivel who took voluntary retirement from military last year, owned one single barrel and one double barrel gun, both licenced. Balamurugan was working as a daily wage labourer. "We got a tip off early on Saturday morning. Our anti-poaching staff rushed to the forest to nab the poachers," said C Palaniraja, forest range officer, Periyanaickenpalayam forest range.
He said the duo was noticed with gun at Gobanari reserve forest in Anaikatti and immediately two of them were arrested. Sakthivel confessed that he came to the forest for hunting wild boars. The duo was booked under Section 51 of Protection of Wildlife Act and was produced before the judicial magistrate (Court -V) on Saturday evening. tnn
