Two men have been arrested for possessing a rifle and a country grenade reportedly used for hunting wildlife at Mettupalayam.
Coimbatore: The Mettupalayam and Sirumugai forests in Coimbatore district are home to a large number of wildlife including deer, wild boar and elephant.
Some illegally use arms to hunt deer and wild boar. Coimbatore SP Selvanagarathinam received confidential information that grenades were being used.
Following the information, the police engaged in intensive patrolling in the area of Karattumedu Karupparayan temple. Police arrested Selvam (41) on suspicion and conducted a serious investigation. The investigation revealed that Selvam and one of his friends had been hunting wildlife.
Later, on inspection of the homes of Selvam and his friend Manoharan (40) in the Karttumedu area revealed that he was in possession of a country rifle and 4 explosives. Police arrested both of them and confiscated from them a pistol, 4 country bombs and packets of ammunition.
The two were charged for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a country bomb and were produced in court and remanded in custody. The seizure of rifles and grenades in the Mettupalayam area has caused great shock among the people of Coimbatore.