Two Arrested for Illegal Gun Possession in Ranipet

quick summary

• A 26-year-old man, V. Deva Prabhu, and his accomplice, G. Rajkumar (29), were arrested by Ratnagiri police for possession of a single-barrel country-made gun in Kavarapalayam village near Arcot town in Ranipet district along the Palar river.
• The village is located near reserve forests and is considered remote.
• A special police team searched Prabhu’s farmland based on an alert to Ranipet SP, Ayman Jamal. after a two-hour search, the gun was recovered from the cow shed along with gunpowder and explosives.
• Initial investigations suggest Prabhu acquired the weapon years ago from friends in Kerala to protect crops from wild boars and hunt small animals at night. Both individuals are now lodged at Central Prison in Vellore as further investigation continues.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The arrest highlights challenges surrounding illegal firearms possession in rural areas adjacent to forests were human-wildlife conflict may prompt individuals to seek unlawful means of protection for thier livelihood. While guarding crops against wild boars or similar threats is a legitimate concern for farmers,resorting to illegal weapons raises safety risks both locally and regionally if such practices go unchecked.

From law enforcement’s perspective,seizing explosives alongside an unlicensed firearm underscores larger concerns over public safety beyond wildlife management issues within forest-fringe communities like Kavarapalayam village. Addressing underlying needs through sustainable solutions-such as wildlife deterrent technologies or increased support for affected farmers-could reduce dependency on prohibited measures without compromising legal norms.

Read more: the Hindu