Bandipur Sanctuary: Forest dept officials shoot dead poacher in self defense

Gundlupet: A 27-year-old youth was shot dead by forest department officias in Maddur range of Bandipur Sanctuary on Sunday.

The deceased identified as Manu (27), a resident of Bheemanabeedu village was part of a 10-member gang who had entered the sanctuary and hunted a deer.

Acting on a tip-off, the Forest department officials tried to apprehend the poachers but they opened fire on them using country made guns. The officials retaliated and opened fire on the poachers in self defense.

One of the bullets hit Manu and he died on the spot. The others managed to flee the spot.

District Superintendent of Police Padmini Sahoo, Tahsildar T Ramesh Babu and Assistant Conservator of Forests Ravindra visited the spot and began an investigation.

Following Manu’s death due to the bullet injury, his family members and villagers rushed to the spot and raised slogans against the forest department.