Major forest fires destroy large swathes in Mahadeshwara, Cauvery sanctuaries

CHAMARAJANAGAR: Massive forest fires destroyed hundreds of acres of forest in the Mahadeshwara and Cauvery wildlife sanctuaries. Forest firest have been occurring frequently leading to suspicion that it may be the handiwork of some miscreants.

In the Cauvery wildlife division, fires have occurred in Kothanur and Kowdahalli ranges while in Mahadeshwara sanctuary, forests have been destroyed in the Hanur buffer zone, Hoogyam and PG Palya ranges. The Forest Department staff are involved in putting out the fires.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested three people who planted crude bombs in fodder which exploded in the mouths of cattle. Five such incidents had been reported in the last one month.

Among the arrested are Ramashetty and Somanna of Kunagalli village in Kollegal taluk. Chamarajanagar SP Dr Kavitha B T had formed a special team to apprehend the accused. The police used sniffer dogs to trace the crude bombs and defused them.

The crude bombs were placed to hunt wild boars. Upon eating the fodder, the crude bombs would explode in the mouths of the cattle, leading to their deaths.