Illegal Hunting Gang Busted in Hyderabad Forest Areas: 6 Arrested, Rs 8 Lakh Weapons and Scorpio Car Seized

Hyderabad: In a major crackdown, the Commissioner’s Task Force, Golconda team along with the Forest Department busted an illegal hunting gang in Shadnagar and Makthal forest areas and arrested six accused persons involved in hunting deers, peacock, rabbits, quail (Kamzu Pitta), and doves using airguns.

Police seized four airguns, one licensed rifle with 20 live rounds, a Scorpio car, eight mobile phones, and pellets worth a total of Rs 8,00,000. A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the accused have been handed over for further investigation.

Accused Arrested in Illegal Hunting Case

The arrested accused have been identified as:

1. Mohd Muzzaffar Hussain @ Guddu, S/o Mohammed Hussain, age 42 years, Bird Sales business, R/o Near Kottamaissamma Kaman, Alijakotla, Hyderabad
2. Mir Ahmed Amir, S/o Late Ahmed Zaffer, age 27 years, Shooter and student, R/o Zauqi Nagar Colony, Behind Jedcherla Police Station, Jedcherla – 509301
3. Abdullah bin Sahain, S/o Sahain, age 27 years, Optical shop, R/o Aliza Kotla, Charminar, Hyderabad
4. Saud bin Mohd Balab, S/o Mohd Balab, age 41 years, Optical shop, R/o Talabkatta New Moghalpura, Hyderabad
5. Masood bin Mohd, S/o Mohd bin Abdul Rab, age 43 years, Rapido driver, R/o Alijakotla, Charminar, Hyderabad
6. K. Sheker, S/o K. Balappa, age 38 years, Agriculture, R/o Mustipally (vi), Maktal (m), Narayanpet (di)

Seized Materials Worth Rs 8,00,000

Officials seized the following items:

• Vertigo 0.177 Cal (VS2401729) Airgun – 01 (belongs to Muzzaffar)
• Walther Dominator 1250 .22 Cal/5.5 (X112413968) Airgun – 01 (belongs to Muzzaffar)
• Gamo 0.177 Cal (PAT NO.US9863741B2, 041C491999-20) Airgun – 01 (belongs to Masood)
• Gamo 0.177 Cal (US9863741B2, 041C492001-20) Airgun – 01 (belongs to Amir)
• 30.06 Non-Prohibited Bore Sporting Rifle No.176100074 (RFI-IN-2017) with 20 bullets (S & B 30-69 Spring) – 01 (belongs to Amir)
• One black button knife (Ruike) used for wild animal halal
• Mobile phones – 8 (including hunting videos in Muzzaffar’s mobile)
• Scorpio car bearing No. AP10AN7137 (belongs to Muzzaffar and used in offence)
• Airgun pellets (Samyang) Cal 0.177 (4.5mm), 250g/tin – 1 box

How the Illegal Hunting Gang Operated

According to investigation, the accused Mohd Muzzaffar Hussain @ Guddu, Saud bin Mohd Balab, Masood bin Mohd, Abdullah bin Sahain are natives of Hyderabad, Mir Ahmed Amir is from Jedcherla, and K. Sheker is from Narayanpet. All are close associates.

• Mir Ahmed Amir is a professional shooter representing Telangana Rifle Association and possessed a licensed rifle
• K. Sheker acted as informer and guided the group to wildlife locations
• The group used Muzzaffar’s Scorpio vehicle (AP10AN7137) to travel to forest areas

They habitually hunted:

• Deer
• Peacock (National Bird of India)
• Rabbits
• Quail (Kamzu Pitta)
• Doves

They recorded hunting videos on Muzzaffar’s mobile phone and consumed the meat. Animal remains such as heads and skin were thrown into nearby canal (Jurala back waters).

Timeline of Hunting Incidents

Police revealed multiple incidents over the past year:

• 15-01-2025: Peacock shot in Makthal forest on Sheker’s direction, later eaten
• 18-03-2025: Wild pig shot and given to a villager in Makthal
• April 2025: Two deer hunted on 15-04-2025 and 20-04-2025
• 03-05-2025: One deer hunted
• 25-05-2025: Three deer hunted; meat consumed and one deer meat stored in Muzzaffar’s residence refrigerator
• 14-07-2025: One deer hunted and eaten
• November 2025: One deer shot by Mir Ahmed Amir using Muzzaffar’s airgun
• 18-02-2026: One deer hunted and consumed

Case Registered Under Wildlife Protection Act

A case has been registered vide POR No.25-05/2122 under Sections 2(35), 9, 52, 39, 51, 56 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 by the Forest Range Officer, Hyderabad East Range, Hyderabad Division.

The accused have been handed over to the Forest Range Officer for further action. Investigation is ongoing.

Officials Behind the Operation

The operation was carried out under the supervision of:

• Ande Srinivasa Rao
• R. Venkatesh
• K. Venkatramana
• Task Force staff

The illegal hunting gang busted in Shadnagar and Makthal forest areas involved six accused who hunted deer, peacock, rabbits, quail, and doves using airguns and recorded videos. Police seized weapons and vehicles worth Rs 8,00,000 and registered a case under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The accused have been arrested and handed over to forest authorities, and the investigation is ongoing.

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