Four held for killing leopard in Siddapura

Udupi: Shankaranarayana range forest officials and staff arrested four persons in connection with the killing and discarding of a leopard in Siddapura village of Kundapura taluk.

A case in this regard was registered on Feb 4, and the accused were arrested on Thursday.

A leopard was killed and discarded near the Siddapura-Shivamogga Road passing through the Dottinaberi reserved forest area in Siddapura village. On Thursday, Shankaranarayana range forest officer (RFO) and staff collected information and arrested Manjunath Shetty, a resident of Salimakki, Yedamoge village, Kundapura taluk, who was involved in the case. Based on his statement, three more individuals were also arrested.

Sandesh Kumar, RFO, Shankaranarayana Range, said two other accused in the case are absconding. The confiscated items include parts of the leopard, one gun, five live bullets, two motorcycles, and other properties. The arrested individuals were presented before the principal civil judge and JMFC court in Kundapura, which remanded them in judicial custody.