Mysuru: Saravanan Gounder, notorious as known as Junior Veerappan was arrested by forest officials early on July 29 after a gunshot purportedly led them to him. According to MM forest staff, he was caught with meat, pelt, a country-made gun, and sharp weapons near the Palar Bridge. Veerappan’s three accomplices Palani, Govinda and Balu escaped. The poacher, operating in a lush region where the forest bandit Veerppan once reigned, hails from Govindapadi on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. On July 28 he entered Karnataka and allegedly shot a sambhar near a pump house. Patrol officials heard the gunshot and blocked the Gopinatham-Palar road at 3 am. They said Saravanan was carrying the meat when they zeroed in on him. Forest staff purportedly warned him they would open fire if he tried to escape or take out his gun. Sources say the arrest could be bad news for some forest personnel as it could expose their links with Saravanan. Saravanan who is wanted in more than half a dozen cases in Karnataka, was out on bail. Cases against him include those relating to the killing of an elephant, and an attack on a forest check post in 2014. Kollegal Division Forest Officer Malathi said, Saravanan was produced before the Kollegal court and sent to jail in Chamarajanagar]]>
