On Wednesday, three people were detained by the forest department and fined Rs 60,000 for hatching a conspiracy to hunt wild game in Gudalur.
He was identified as K.K. Abraham (58), ex. Joseph (53) and M. Jacob (45). Forest officials said he was taken into custody when the staff saw him in an inebriated condition outside a hotel. When asked why they are near a reserve forest, he gave a contradictory answer.
On further interrogation, he confessed to conspiring to hunt down the sambar and the spotted deer. They were produced before the District Forest Officer and senior officials, who fined them Rs 20,000 each. They were also asked to sign an undertaking that they would not hunt any wildlife, and were warned that strict action would be taken if they violated the Wildlife Protection Act.
An official said the men were later released. Checks will be intensified for Diwali to ensure that poachers do not enter the reserve forests to hunt wild game.