3 workers from farm owned by Theni MP held for leopard death

MADURAI: Three persons were arrested, including two, who are said to be managing a private farm bordering the forest range in Theni, where a male leopard was recently found dead. The private farm is being owned by three persons, including OP Raveendranath Kumar, Theni MP under a joint patta, sources said on Sunday.

The leopard was found dead in Theni Forest range on September 28, a day after another leopard, which got stuck in solar fence, managed to find its way out after Assistant Conservator of Forest Mahendran removed the animal from the fence.

However, the animal injured Mahendran leading to his hospitalization, sources said. Theni Forest Range Officer M Senthil Kumar said recently a shepherd named Alex Pandian of Ramanathapuram was arrested. After enquiring, he said Pandian ran a herd of goats in the private farm and two of his goats were bitten to death.

On Saturday night, managers of the private farm, including M Thangavel (42) of Periyakulam and K Rajavel (28) of Bodi Nagalapuram were arrested. The arrests were made under the Wildlife Protection Act, the Range Officer said.