Starving emus get feed

starving for days after a firm involved in commercial farming of the birds came under police net, were today provided feed following the intervention of officials.

More than 7,000 emus at nearby Perundurai-based Susi Emu Farms had gone without feed in the last three days after regular suppliers stopped supplies in the wake of police on August 7 booking the owner of the firm on charges of cheating.

Cases have been registered against Susi Emu Farms owner -cum Managing Director M S Guru and seven others for allegedly cheating a large number of people to the tune of crores of rupees by promising lucrative returns on investments in commercial rearing of emus.

Bird feed suppliers had stopped supplies to the company saying it owed them Rs two crore. Emus require 750 grams of feed daily but were only given water.

On coming to know about the plight of the birds, police and revenue officials directed the staff at the administrative office of the firm to arrange funds for procuring the feed, following which 100 tonne of feed arrived late last night and was provided to the birds.

Police, meanwhile, said they continued to receive large number of complaints from the duped investors, who have been asked to approach the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of police.

The company owner and other seven persons are absconding and special teams have been formed to nab them.