Hyderabad police arrested three Malakpet residents suspected of poaching deer in Chimmanchod forest in Karnataka’s Chincholi taluk and seized a licensed .30-06 sporting rifle, live ammunition and night-vision equipment, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle. The arrests were made on Tuesday by Malakpet police and the Charminar Zone task force.
The accused were identified as Syed Hussain, Syed Omer and Mohammed Hameed. Police suspect that the three had been involved in hunting for around six months and said they gave conflicting statements during the investigation. They were produced in court and later released on bail.
Investigators seized one licensed .30-06 rifle fitted with a HIKMICRO night-vision telescope, eight live rounds, 12 empty cartridges, two additional night-vision telescopes, a rechargeable battery and a damaged Huawei foldable phone. The phone reportedly contained videos of hunting, the report said.
The arrests followed an operation linked to alleged hunting activity in Chimmanchod forest, located in Kalaburagi district. The report said CLUES teams did not find bloodstains or direct physical evidence at the site. The three men were nevertheless detained as police examined the equipment, phone contents and their statements.
The case is part of a wider enforcement effort involving forest areas along the Telangana–Karnataka–Maharashtra borders. According to the report, Telangana police have arrested or detained 21 hunters in three major operations since January. Police have identified several areas connected to alleged hunting of blackbucks, peacocks and deer, including Raikal, Mathakal, Shadnagar and Chimmanchod.
Police have also intensified checks on routes leading into Hyderabad, including locations around the Outer Ring Road, after identifying these routes as possible entry points for people transporting hunted animals or equipment. The report said 13 kg of deer meat was seized during earlier operations, along with weapons and telescopes.
According to sources cited by Deccan Chronicle, some hunters use powerful rifles such as .30-06 and 3.15 bore weapons. The report also said imported mufflers and suppressors are used to reduce firing noise, while night-vision binoculars, thermal imaging devices and transmitters help hunters operate after dark. These details were presented as part of the police assessment of equipment used in the reported cases.
The reported pattern places pressure on enforcement agencies operating across state borders and on urban policing teams monitoring movement into Hyderabad. Forest officials and police must track activity across jurisdictions, while city-level checks are being used to intercept suspects and recover weapons, meat or other evidence.
The three men’s release on bail does not conclude the investigation. Police proceedings will continue around the seized rifle, ammunition, electronic devices, alleged hunting videos and the suspected movement between Hyderabad and forest areas. Further legal action will depend on the evidence placed before the court.
