Two persons held for possession of country-made guns, explosives

Two persons, including a farmer, were arrested for possession of two country made guns and crude bombs near Pallikonda and Pernambut towns in Vellore on Saturday.

Forest officials identified the arrested persons as U. Chandru, 21, a tribal from Irular community, and G. Srinivasan, 39, a farmer.

Initial inquiry revealed that Srinivasan has been cultivating paddy and groundnuts on his two acre farmland. Forest officials said that, based on a tip-off, a special team conducted searches at his house and farmland, and found country made guns, explosives, nets, torchlights, and batteries.

Forest officials said that Srinivasan procured guns from his contacts in Kerala. He used pellets to hunt monkeys, rabbits, and spotted deer in forests surrounding Jawadhu Hills.

In a separate incident, forest officials arrested Chandru, who was allegedly loitering with a country-made gun in the area. The team nabbed him during a regular patrol and seized the country-made gun, pellets, and explosives.

Forest officials said both arrested persons were lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. Further probe is under way.