Man dies after chase by anti-poaching staff

A poacher, who tried to escape on a two-wheeler after being chased by a Forest Department staff, died after crashing into a bridge in Erode district, on Saturday. An anti-poaching watcher of the Forest Department staff too suffered serious injuries and has been admitted in hospital in a serious condition.

According to sources, Aravind (20) from Kanakkarasampalayam near Punjai Puliampatty, poached a wild boar and was returning home with the carcass on a bike at night.

While nearing a temple at Sathyamangalam, Aravind spotted an anti-poaching watcher involved in vehicle checks. Fearing that he may be caught, Aravind turned his bike and drove away. As this raised suspicion, the watcher, Lalith Kumar, began to chase him on his bike.

Aravind rammed his speeding two-wheeler on the side wall of a bridge near Rajan Nagar. In the impact of the mishap, the country bombs that he had kept in a bag to poach wild animals began to explode one after the other. The youth, who was already injured in the mishap, sustained more injuries in the explosions.

Meanwhile, Lalith Kumar, who was chasing the poacher, also lost control of his bike and crashed on to the side walls of the bridge. The public who noticed the mishap informed the Bhavani Sagar police, who rushed to the spot and sent both the injured persons to a hospital.

However, Aravind succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital, while Lalith Kumar was admitted in Sathyamangalam government hospital with serious injuries. He was then taken to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for further treatment.

The Bhavani Sagar police have registered a case and further inquiries are on.

Police said Aravind is survived by his wife Mahalakshmi (19).

Wild animals, mainly deer and wild boar, are killed for their meat by poachers by using country bombs.