Forest staffer shot at neck during patrol

On Friday night, forest staff Balaji and Sampath were involved in their night patrol near Punalmedu adjacent to Kanji village near Tiruvannamalai town, when they saw two men coming out of the reserve forest with a country gun. Based on suspicion, the forest staff started spying on the duo later identified as Venketesan (29) and Sivachandran (29) both of Melchozhankuppam in Kalasapakkam panchayat union.

On seeing the forest department staff, the duo climbed onto their two-wheeler and tried to flee the spot. However, when the forest department staff began to chase them on a two-wheeler, the frightened Venketesan who was riding pillion and holding the country gun, fired at them. As a result, Sampath sustained bullet injuries on the right side of his neck and Balaji lost control of the vehicle resulting in both of them falling on the ground.

Similarly, the shocked culprits also fell of their bikes and sustained injuries. The Forest staff who were nearby immediately rushed all of them to the hospital. Based on a complaint from Sampath, Tiruvannamalai taluk police registered a case and are investigating.