RAIPUR: Six spotted deer suspected to have been poisoned, died after drinking water from a pond, in a forest region of Dhamtari district, forest officials said on Tuesday. Three people have been arrested in this connection.
The incident took place at Salhebhat village in Keregaon forest range of the district, a senior forest official said.
The matter came to light yesterday, when some locals spotted cheetal dead near Kukri Muda pond of the village, located around 130 kms away from the state capital Raipur. They subsequently informed the forest officials, he said. Of the six dead deer, five were female and one was male, he added.
Soon after getting information, forest officials, including Ranger AR Khan, rushed to the spot, he said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that some poisonous substance was mixed in the water body with a motive of poaching. The wild animals must have consumed that water following which their life system collapsed leading to their deaths, he said.
Three people have been arrested following interrogation in this connection, the official said adding that further probe was underway.
Viscera sample of the dead animals and water sample have been sent to the lab for testing which will further throw light in the case, he added. Agencies
