Forest Department officials in Bengaluru seized the carcasses of deer and wild boar along with 74 kg of deer meat on Sunday.

Following instructions of Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, a team of department officials from the Bengaluru Circle intercepted a car near the Bannerghatta-Nice Road junction. Upon inspection they found the carcasses of four spotted deer and a wild boar in the car.

The officials arrested the driver of the car, Pratap, 31, and during interrogation, it was revealed that there were more deer carcasses and deer meat stored in a shed in C.K. Palya.

The officials later raided the shed and found the carcasses and nearly 74 kg of deer meat. In total, the carcasses of nine deer and one wild boar, along with deer meat was recovered.

In addition, one double-barrelled gun, one single-barrell gun, 10 cartridges, a bike, and another car were seized.

The owner of the shed, Bhimappa, and two other persons, Balaraju and Ramesh, who had kept the deer meat, are missing. A case has been registered against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Officials said that Mr. Khandre instructed the Forest Department to conduct an operation based on specific information that a group of persons was killing deer in the Bannerghatta forest area and selling deer meat.

The operation was led by Chief Conservator of Forests Bengaluru Circle. S. Sivashankar, Bengaluru Urban Deputy Conservator of Forests N. Ravindra Kumar, and Assistant Conservator of Forests V. Ganesh.