In a shocking case of mass poaching, 12 spotted deer (cheetal) and two sambar were found dead after a pond was poisoned in Ghughri Kanti village area under Vijayraghavgarh Forest Range in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district. The Forest Department has arrested three accused in connection with the incident. They were produced before a local court. According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Garvit Gangwar, carcasses of wild animals were found on Thursday morning during a routine patrol. The carcasses of 14 deer were found scattered within a 100-metre radius around a forest pond in Ghughri Kanti area.

 

Considering seriousness of the incident, the Forest Department deployed a dog squad to trace the culprits. The investigation led the team to a house in Vinauli village, where officials recovered fresh blood stains, wild animal meat, animal hair and equipment allegedly used for hunting. The suspect was taken into custody and based on his interrogation, two more accused from the same village were arrested. During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed that they had mixed poison into the pond water with an intention of hunting wild animals. The Forest Department conducted post-mortem on dead animals before performing their last rites. Water samples from the pond have been collected and sent for laboratory analysis to determine the type of poison used. DFO Garvit Gangwar said patrolling has been intensified around water sources in forest areas following the incident. A forest guard has also been deployed near contaminated pond at Ghughri Kanti to prevent other wild animals from drinking poisoned water while the investigation continues.