Five arrested for killing 3 deer in Sangareddy forest

HYDERABAD: Five persons were arrested by forest officials on Monday on the charge of killing three deer in Nagilgidda mandal in Sangareddy district. Deer meat along with a licensed rifle and ammunition was recovered. Among the accused were a trio from Kalaburagi (formerly Gulbarga) in Karnataka.


Officials said the accused set out from Hyderabad on Sunday night and reached Karamungi village at 3.30 am on Monday to hunt spotted deer and blackbuck.

“They crossed Zaheerabad toll plaza at around 2.15 am in a Scorpio (registration No. TS 09 EB 1010). They came via Patancheru. After hearing gunshots, villagers alerted police, who intercepted their vehicle at Karamungi when they were trying to flee,” forest range officer (FRO), Narayankhed, K Devilal said. Shockingly, the accused told the forest officials that they hunted the deer for consuming the meat.

The accused have been identified as Mohammed Sakir, civil contractor, Mohammed Abul Khaja, civil contractor, Mohammed Niyaz, private firm employee, all of them hailing from Gulbarga, and Mohammed Muneer, a chicken shop owner and Mohammed Mukarram, a computer mechanic, both belonging to Tolichowki in Hyderabad.

Sakir, the main accused, owns a licensed .30-06 sporting rifle. “The gang used the rifle to hunt three deer. The killed deer were skinned and then the meat was chopped into pieces by Muneer. We have to check the hunting spot to see the skin to identify if the accused had hunted a spotted deer or a blackbuck,” the FRO said. Officials also seized 12 live rounds from the accused.

The accused were arrested under section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. They will be produced before the court on Tuesday.