Six individuals, including three residents from Hyderabad, were arrested for illegally hunting a blackbuck in the Chondi-Mamadapur grassland near the Honnikeri Reserved Forest in Bidar district. According to media reports, vigilant local residents chased and caught three suspects on August 17 after hearing gunshots. A joint operation by Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Telangana forest and police authorities led to the arrest of the remaining three fugitives. As reported by media outlets, officials confiscated a long-range rifle and two vehicles used during the crime.
A joint operation by forest and police officials led to the arrest of six individuals in connection with the illegal hunting of a blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) in the Chondi-Mamadapur grassland, adjacent to the Honnikeri Reserved Forest area in Karnataka’s Bidar district. The incident took place on August 17 in a region recognized as a key habitat for the protected species.
The illegal activity was initially interrupted by alert residents of Chondi Tanda and Mamadapur Tanda. Hearing gunshots in the grassland, local villagers gave chase and apprehended three suspects on the spot. The residents promptly handed the three individuals over to law enforcement authorities, who subsequently transferred them to the Forest Department for official processing.
Following the escape of three other suspects, the Forest Department formed a specialized search team led by Assistant Conservator of Forests Muneer Ahmed. A coordinated inter-state effort involving forest and police personnel from Bidar, neighboring Kalaburagi, and Telangana culminated in the arrest of the remaining three fugitives on August 18.
The arrested suspects include three locals from Chincholi taluk in Kalaburagi district—Shoaib Malik, Areef Khan, and Md Haji—alongside three residents of Hyderabad: Abdul Sayeed, Mohd Hameed Uzzaman, and Mohd Naseer. Forest officials confiscated two four-wheeled vehicles and a long-range rifle allegedly used during the commission of the crime.
A wildlife offence case has been formally registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, under which the blackbuck is classified as a Schedule-I protected species. Range Forest Officer Praveenkumar More is leading the ongoing investigation. All six accused have been produced before a local court for further judicial proceedings.
