2 arrested on charges of killing deer in Jharkhand

Two persons were arrested for allegedly killing a deer that strayed into a village from a forest in West Singhbhum district, forest officials said today.

The deer was killed yesterday in Pachasai village under the jurisdiction of Noamundi police station, the officials said, adding that the accused were arrested yesterday as well.

The deer had strayed into the village from the nearby Saranda forest, they said, adding that perhaps the deer was in search of water.

Some youths of the village, after spotting the deer, chased it for quite sometime and had managed to capture it alive with the help of some labourers who were working near the village, Forest Ranger of Noamundi area of Saranda forest Anand Bihari Singh said.

Promising the labourers that they would hand over the deer to the Forest Department, the youths of the village kept the deer in their possession, Singh said.

The villagers then killed the deer to have a feast, he said.

Singh also said that as soon as the Forest Department was informed about the incident, a team of forest officials along with the Noamundi police carried out a raid at the village and recovered the carcass.

"We have arrested two persons under various sections of the Wildlife Act," he said.

Singh also did not rule the possibility of involvement of more villagers in the incident.

An investigation has been initiated, he said.