One arrested over Bandipur forest fire

Forest department personnel with the accused, Arun Kumar, at Bandipur, on Thursday.

The Forest department personnel arrested a villager, in connection with the wildfire in Gopalaswamy Betta range of forests under Bandipur Tiger Reserve, on Thursday.

The accused has been identified as Arun Kumar, a resident of Kallipura, on the fringes of the forest. The people of the village said, Arun Kumar had fled the village since the fire was noticed in Gopalaswamy Betta ranges. Range Forest Officer Puttaswamy and staffer Naveen arrested the accused.

It has to be noted that thousands of acres of forests under the reserve, especially under Bandipur, Moolehole and Gopalaswamy Betta ranges has been gutted in the fire since last Wednesday.