The Forest Department has arrested six individuals in connection with the alleged illegal hunting of a blackbuck at the Chondi-Mamadapur grassland near the Honnikeri Reserved Forest area in Bidar district of Karnataka. The incident, which occurred on August 17, 2026, has led to the registration of Wildlife Offence Case No. 02/2026-27 against the accused persons.
Alert residents of Chondi Tanda and Mamadapur Tanda initially chased and apprehended three accused at the scene and handed them over to the authorities. The remaining three suspects fled from the spot, prompting the Forest Department to launch a special search operation. All three absconding accused were successfully traced and arrested on August 18.
The Forest Department has identified the six accused as Shoaib Malik, son of Mastan Ali, resident of Quazi Galli, Chincholi, Kalaburagi district; Abdul Sayeed, son of Abdul Jameel, resident of Salehheen Colony, Nawab Sahab Kunta, Charminar-Falaknuma area, Hyderabad; Mohd. Hameed Uzzaman, son of Mohammed Hamed Uzzaman, resident of Akber Bagh, Malakpet, Hyderabad; Md. Naseer, son of Md. Abdul Hamed, resident of Tadaban, Bahadurpura, Hyderabad; Areef Khan, son of Habib Khan, resident of Chincholi, Kalaburagi district; and Md. Haji, son of Dadapeer Haji, resident of Chincholi, Kalaburagi district.
Authorities seized two four-wheelers and one rifle allegedly used in the commission of the offence. All six accused were produced before the court for further legal proceedings. Preliminary investigation reveals that three accused are residents of Chincholi taluk in Kalaburagi district, while the other three are residents of Hyderabad, Telangana. Officials have stated that persons from Telangana allegedly equipped with sophisticated long-range rifles were involved in the hunting incident.
The blackbuck, scientifically known as Antilope cervicapra, is a Schedule-I protected wildlife species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Hunting or killing the animal constitutes a serious wildlife offence and can attract stringent legal action under the provisions of the Act.
The Forest Department has appreciated the residents of Chondi Tanda and Mamadapur Tanda for their alertness and prompt action in apprehending three of the accused. Further investigation is underway, and the Forest Department has appealed to the public to report any incidents of wildlife hunting, poaching or illegal possession of protected wildlife to the nearest Forest Department authorities.
