Udupi: Forest officials have taken two persons of Vitla into custody on the charges of hunting wild animals in the Kabbinale forests near Hebri. Police have also seized the Barinka or mouse deer hunted by them and also the guns, knives as well as a car belonging to them.

The arrested persons are Azeez of Pathur in Kerala and Shahul Hameed of Kukkila in Vitlapadnur village. Three other accused are absconding. One of the absconding accused has been identified as Hameed alias Talwar Hameed of Kodangai.