Farmer held for possession of country-made guns

A 45-year-old farmer was arrested for possession of two country-made guns at his farmland in Upparapalli village near Gudiyatham town in Vellore on Thursday.

The arrested person was identified as K. Gopi. Initial inquiry revealed that Gopi has taken a three-acre farm on lease from its owner B. Govindasamy, who moved to Hosur with his family a few years ago, to cultivate paddy and other crops.

Police said that based on a tip-off, a special team conducted searches in his house and the farmland. They found two country-made guns, explosives, nets, torchlights and batteries. He told police that he made the guns on his own after watching videos about it. He used pellets to hunt wild animals like monkeys, rabbits and spotted deer in the surrounding forests near Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border. He also used it to prevent wild boars from damaging crops.

Police seized two country-made guns and other materials. A case was registered, and he was arrested and lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. Further probe is under way.