A police head constable of Dhanushkodi was nabbed while attempting to poach spotted deer in Rengarkoil beat of Srivilliputtur Meghamalai Tiger Reserve on Monday.
A forest patrol team, led by Range Officer G. Chellamani and Forester Karthik Raja, caught him red-handed with a country-made single-barrel rifle and also seized two live rounds and three empty cases.
On hearing gun fire inside the forest area in Kolaikaranparai, a patrol team rushed there and arrested the head constable around 1 a.m. He was charged with attempting to hunt down a spotted deer. Two others, Ponraj of Mamsapuram and Thangaraj of Aladipattti, managed to escape under the cover of darkness, sources said.
After questioning the head constable, the forest officials booked him under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Arms Act 1959. Efforts are on to arrest the other accused.
Published – August 25, 2025 05:11 pm IST
