Date:06/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040654180400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Three arrested for ‘killing’ of leopards

Staff Reporter

Sangareddy: Police arrested three farmers for poisoning the three leopards, which were found dead by forest rangers in Sherkhanpalli village of Hathnoora mandal on Friday. Kodakalla Ramesh, S. Anjaneyulu and Ch. Anjaneyulu of Nathnaipalli village were arrested and remanded in Medak court on Saturday for the offence punishable under Sections 9 of 1972 and Section 51 of Wild Life Protection Act.

They are liable to a punishment of three years in jail and a fine of Rs. 25,000 each.

According to District Forest Officer Srinivasulu, S. Anjaneyulu used to chain his dog at his farm leased from Ramesh during night time to protect the crop. On April 1, the leopards killed the dog and ate a portion of it and left the carcass there itself. The next day, the furious trio sprinkled half-a-kilogram pesticide granules on the remaining part of the dog and left it there. In the night, the leopards returned and ate away the remaining part of the prey and died a slow and painful death.

In panic, the culprits concealed the remaining part of the dog so that none could detect the offence.