Adivasi youth shot dead during hunting trip; Police probe underway

Coimbatore: An Adivasi youth who ventured into the forest near Pillur Dam for a hunting trip with relatives was found dead from a gunshot wound on Tuesday morning. The deceased has been identified as R. Sanjith, 23, from Athikkadavu Sorandi Colony. Police have since arrested K. Praveen, 37, in connection with the incident, while another companion remains absconding.

Sanjith had reportedly gone hunting with a country gun in the dense forest alongside his relatives, Praveen and Pappayyan. The grim discovery was made the following morning when Praveen contacted family members to inform them that Sanjith had been shot. Relatives rushed to the site and found Sanjith's body near the Bhavani River, riddled with gunshot wounds in multiple places. Neither Praveen nor Pappayyan were present at the scene upon the family's arrival.

Following the discovery, Sanjith's relatives brought his body home and immediately alerted the Pillur Dam Police. Authorities confirmed that Sanjith sustained gunshot wounds in five locations on his body before the body was subsequently transported to Mettupalayam Government Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Police investigation led to the arrest of Praveen. In his statement to the police, Praveen claimed he had returned home after catching a giant squirrel, leaving Sanjith and Pappayyan to continue hunting. He further alleged that Sanjith was shot by Pappayyan during a drunken quarrel that ensued between the two remaining hunters. Pappayyan is currently absconding, and police are continuing their investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding Sanjith's death.