Jayakumar Madala By
Express News Service
TIRUCHY: In a horrific incident, a gang of 12 Narikuravars were arrested by the forest department for killing a jackal using explosives near Jeeyapuram in Tiruchy on Monday. According to forest officials, the jackal died as the explosive stuffed inside meat ripped its jaws upon eating.
Even as the outcry regarding the killing of an elephant using explosives in Kerala is yet to fade out, a new incident comes to light in Tiruchy in which a group of Narikuravars killed a jackal by stuffing explosives in meat. The miscreants allegedly killed the jackal for its teeth and meat.
"The group of miscreants went for honey harvesting to a village. While returning, they spotted the presence of a jackal roaming around. So in an attempt to hunt it down, the accused used country-made bombs and blew its jaw off," said a senior forest official.
Reportedly, the incident came to light after a police constable spotted the group of Narikuravar drinking tea at a stall with the carcass in a shady bag.
"A police constable attached to the Jeeyapuram station spotted the group of Narikuravaras in a tea stall. Seeing their suspective behaviour, he enquired with them. During the initial inquiry, it was found that they had hunted the jackal. Later the information was passed on to us," added the forest officer.
The 12 people accused includes Ramraj (21), Saravanan (25), Yesudas (34), Sarathkumar (28), Devadas (41), Pandian (31), Vijayakumar (38), SAThyamoorthy (36), Sarathkumar (26), Rajamanikam (70) Raju (45) Patampillai (78). All the accused belong to Pulankudi Colony near Thiruverumbur.
Following the arrest, the forest officials conducted further investigation regarding how they had country bombs in their possession.
Authorities on Monday arrested twelve people in Tamil Nadu, India after a  died trying to eat a bomb embedded in meat that subsequently exploded. Jackals are protected in India.
File photo of a jackal.
Officials said a police constable, reportedly one Vijayaragavan, saw the twelve with the dead jackal in , decided to question them after they aroused suspicion at a tea stall, and learned they were responsible for the jackal's death.  The forestry department arrested them.  According to local news sources, the constable found the jackal's bagged carcass after inquiring.

The suspects range in age from 21 to 78 and were identified as  from the village of Poolangudi.  They were taken into the custody of the forestry department. Authorities said the killing occurred in  forest in a bid to gain jackal meat and teeth.

The  lists jackals as a protected species. India's jackals face attention from poachers, who sell the parts. One study in the '''' from March noted authorities seized 126 skins, eight tails, 16 skulls and two live jackals from 2013 to 2019. The same study also noted over 370 "jackal horns" seized in the same period. Jackal horns are crafted from skulls of jackals and are considered .

Last week, in the neighbouring state of Kerala, one suspect was arrested in connection with the death of a pregnant female elephant suffering from explosive injuries.  Authorities said they believed a fruit filled with firecrackers had exploded in the elephant's mouth, damaging her jaw and ultimately leading to her death.