Two arrested with deer skin

LUCKNOW - Two poachers have been arrested with spotted deer skin and several antlers in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, police said Monday.

The men, in their mid 30s, were nabbed late Sunday from Margoobpur village, about 150 km from here.

“The two admitted they have been selling the skin and hide of wild animals, antlers and meat to clients in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan,” police inspector D.P. Itwal said in Gonda.

“The two also admitted they have been into the wildlife trade for five years. We are still to ascertain where the animals were killed,” he added.

Under Indian law, injuring or killing a spotted deer is an offence. The spotted deer is the most common species in Indian forests. Its coat is in reddish fawn colour, marked with white spots. Its underbelly is white.