The Charminar Zone Task Force Arrested Three Men And Seized Sophisticated Hunting Equipment On Tuesday.

HYDERABAD: Forests on the Telangana–Karnataka–Maharashtra borders have become a safe haven for illegal hunting. In the past 10 months, 21 people have been arrested by Telangana police.

Hunters avoid forest officials and police by choosing border forests. After killing banned animals, they cut the flesh and destroy skins and horns. Many are caught while entering the city, as police have identified hot spots on the ORR and intensified checks.

Sources said hunters use powerful rifles such as .30‑06 and 3.15 bore. To suppress the sound, they fit imported mufflers and suppressors, reducing firing noise by up to 80 per cent. Some are equipped with night‑vision binoculars, thermal imaging devices and transmitters.

On Tuesday, Malakpet police and Charminar Zone task force arrested three licensed hunters suspected of poaching deer in Chimmanchod forest, Chincholi taluk, Kalaburagi district. Though CLUES teams found no bloodstains or direct evidence, the trio were detained.

Police seized a licensed .30‑06 sporting rifle fitted with a HIKMICRO night‑vision telescope, eight live rounds, 12 empty cartridges, two night‑vision telescopes, a rechargeable battery and a damaged Huawei foldable phone. The phone reportedly contained videos of hunting.

The accused were identified as Syed Hussain, Syed Omer and Mohammed Hameed, all residents of Malakpet. Investigators suspect they have been hunting for six months and gave conflicting statements. They were produced in court and released on bail.

Since January, 21 hunters, including the trio, have been booked or detained in three major operations around Hyderabad. Blackbucks and peacocks were hunted in Raikal, Mathakal, Shadnagar and Chimmanchod forests. Police seized weapons, telescopes and 13 kg of deer meat.