Chamarajanagar: The Bandipur National Park authorities have arrested six men for poaching in the wildlife park. Ironically, they used to be employed as fire watchers by the wildlife park, and gained knowledge of the terrain and movement of animals while on the job.
Four others are said to be on the run.
The six arrested men were identified as Allumalaiah, 39, Chenna Malla (30), Naganna (60), Rangaswamy (28), Prabhu and Krishna. They had all worked as fire watchers in the Gopalaswamy Betta range of the Bandipur National Park from November to April before they were removed from the job.
During their job as fire watchers, Gopalaswamy Betta range forest officer Naveen Kumar said they became familiar with the territory and learnt to lay snares.
Acting on a tip-off, personnel of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), G S Betta personnel and Maddur staff intercepted a two-wheeler on which two persons were transporting 50 kg venison (deer meat) at a hillock near Hosahalliat around 5. 45 am on Friday.
The duo told the forest officials that they had snared two deers and were intending to sell the venison to other gang members at Rs 250 per kg.
