Kundapur: Four arrested in Shankaranarayana leopard killing case; two absconding

Kundapur: Four arrested in Shankaranarayana leopard killing case; two absconding

Mangalore Today News Network

Kundapur, May 23, 2026: Forest department officials have arrested four persons in connection with the killing of a leopard in the Dottinabailu reserve forest area of Siddapur village under the Shankaranarayana forest range.

The arrested accused have been identified as Manjunath Shetty of Salimakki in Yedamoge village, Nadeem Karani of Kandlooru in Kavradi village, and Nagaraj Bovi and Venkataramana Bovi, both residents of Hanebachalu in Yedamoge village.

Officials said they seized four leopard claws, bone fragments, a gun, five live bullets, and two motorcycles from the accused.

The case came to light after a leopard was found killed and dumped near the Siddapur-Shivamogga district road on February 4. Following the registration of a case at the Shankaranarayana forest range, forest officials launched an investigation.

During the probe, Shankaranarayana range forest officers arrested Manjunath Shetty on Thursday and interrogated him. Based on the information obtained from him, the remaining three accused were subsequently taken into custody.

Forest officials said two more accused involved in the case are absconding, and efforts are underway to trace and arrest them.

The accused were produced before the Kundapur Principal Civil Judge and JMFC Court.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Kundapur division Deputy Conservator of Forests Ruthren P. Shankaranarayana Range Forest Officer Sandesh Kumar and staff, Kundapur and Byndoor range personnel, along with Kandlooru Rural Police Station inspector Niranjan Gowda and his team, participated in the operation.

The investigation was conducted in the presence of Kundapur division Additional Assistant Conservator of Forests and Technical Assistant to the Deputy Conservator of Forests P. Sridhar.