A forester has been placed under suspension for failing to nab a ruling party functionary who was allegedly part of a team hunting spotted deer at Oothumalai near Alangulam on Saturday night.
Three hunters with the carcass of a spotted deer were arrested near Alangulam when they were allegedly hunting in Oothumalai reserve forest. When Oothumalai police were on night patrol near the reserve forest on Saturday midnight, they heard the gunshot and rushed to the spot. On seeing the police approaching them, the hunters tried to flee in their car, which met with an accident.
The police surrounded the capsized car and picked up Ranjit Singh of Nazareth, Rajalingam and Pon Anand of Nagercoil. The police also seized two guns, the carcass of a spotted deer and knives from the car. The trio, their car and the seized articles were handed over to the Forest Department officials for further inquiry on Sunday.
As Pon Anand suffered an injury in the accident, he was admitted to Tenkasi Government Hospital for treatment.
As investigation by senior forest officials revealed that a DMK functionary was also part of the team that hunted down the spotted deer, District Forest Officer Akhil Thampi placed under suspension forester Mahadevan on Tuesday for failing to nab him.
“The investigation revealed that the DMK functionary was the kingpin and he had escaped along with a few more persons. Efforts are on to nab all of them,” said sources in the Forest Department.
Published – September 02, 2025 08:12 pm IST
