Chennai: Trap set by hunters injures teenager

Chennai: A 13-year-old-boy who sustained bullet injuries after an animal trap set up by local poachers went off in Tiruvannamalai district, was admitted to Rajiv
Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), on Monday morning.

The incident occurred at Valasai, a forest area in Chengam, when the boy identified as Sathya Dasan, (13), a Class VII student, ventured into the forest along with his mother Vasuki, after one of their cattle went astray, on Sunday.

Around 7.30 pm, Vasuki heard a shot and rushed to the spot to find her son bleeding in his leg. Since her relatives advised her that her son would survive only if he was admitted to RGGGH, she brought him here.

Subsequently, Tiruvannamalai police began their probe after being alerted by   RGGGH. The probe revealed that the bullet had come from a single shot animal trap assembled with a country-gun planted by local poachers.

“We have identified the trap and seized it as well. We will be able to nab the suspect as well for planting the trap”, DSP (Chengam) P. Ganesan told DC.

“It is a classic version of an animal trap used by poachers ever since the advent of shotgun.

The trigger of the country-made shotgun was connected with a spring which was then hooked to the bait which the boy inadvertently tripped and got shot”, Ganesan said.

Vasuki told reporters she went to the land with her son for irrigation. They were returning when the incident occurred. She was trailing behind her son.

“It is quite common for villagers to set traps in their fields, most of which have  groundnuts. They set the traps to keep animals away. However, this trap was very much on the animal trail”, said a senior police officer.