KALPETTA: The forest department has increased its vigil in Wayanad where poachers have shot dead two female elephants in the last two months. The first incident in May was believed to be an attempt to avenge the Wayanad Wildlife Warden P. Dhanesh Kumar who had taken a stern stand against poachers and tourism operators who have resorts close to the jungle. The second incident took place in a farmland and the motive is yet to be ascertained.
The forest department has formed many night patrol teams for surveillance of jungle routes and also strengthened the information gathering network, sources said. It was during a search operation that a poaching team was arrested on Wednesday night. Those arrested had camped in a resort from where traps, bullets and hunting knives were seized.
The department produced all the arrested gangsters at the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Sulthan Bathery, and they were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. The arrested are K. Sanju, 23, of Puthankunnu, Cheeral, Sameer Faisal, 48, of Mankada, Malappuram, Pratheesh, 28, son of Veeran, of Puthankunnu, P.M. Latheef, 41, of Perinthalmanna, Kunjachan, 47, son of Varkey, Suresh, 44, son of Samuel and Thodiyil Gafoor, 42, of Mankada, Malappuram.
