Forest Department staff fired at a vehicle that was transporting cattle illegally from Kerala to Sullia.
The incident took place at 4.30 am Sunday at Koornadka in Sullia taluk, on the border of Karnataka and Kerala.
Acting on a tip-off that teak wood is being transported illegally to Kerala, the forest officials turned on high alert and began inspecting the vehicles on the border.
Noticing a pickup vehicle, the officials instructed the driver to stop the vehicle to check. The driver, however, tried to flee. When the Forest Department officials waylaid the vehicle, the men tried to assault the officials using lethal weapons.
The forest officials fired in the air for self protection, before firing at the vehicle. The men in the vehicle left the vehicle and fled into the forest.
While inspecting the vehicle, the forest officials found three cows instead of teak wood. They handed over the vehicle and the cows to the Sullia police.
It is learnt that a member of the gang was injured in the firing and has been admitted to a hospital in Kannur.
A case has been registered in Sullia police station.