12 gypsies have been arrested for hunting a jackal by packing explosives in meat. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has arrested them after reports emerged that the men had hunted it for its meat and teeth.
It was discovered that the men had gone to a village near Trichy to collect honey. Upon finding a jackal on the prowl, they had stuffed explosives in pieces of meat and thrown it around in places it frequented. The bomb had exploded in its mouth just as it had taken a bite.
Talking about this, a forest department official said, “The bombs are similar to what is called ‘onion bomb’ that are burst during Diwali. The explosive chemicals are packed and when pressure is applied it bursts.” He added that when the animal bites the meat, the bomb explodes, ripping its jaws apart.
According to the official, the gypsies had hunted it at night and gathered at a tea stall in the morning. A police constable from Jeeyapuram had questioned them after finding them suspicious. On enquiring they found the dead jackal in the bag. The gypsies were later handed over to the forest department.