Fri Apr 04 14:33:39 UTC 2025: ## Main Accused in Elephant Poaching Case Found Dead in Tamil Nadu Forest
**DHARMAPURI, Tamil Nadu, April 4, 2025** – Senthil Kumar, the main accused in a brutal elephant poaching case in Tamil Nadu’s Eriyur reserve forest, has been found dead. His body, discovered a fortnight after he escaped police custody, was found with a rifle nearby.
Kumar, along with family members, was apprehended on March 18th for the February 27th poaching of a 7-10 year old tusker. The animal’s carcass was found mutilated and burned, an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Kumar escaped custody during a site identification walk near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
His escape sparked speculation he had been shot. His wife filed a missing person report with police. However, District Forest Officer K. Rajangam stated that the escape occurred in the presence of Kumar’s relatives and denied forest staff involvement in his death. Rajangam confirmed that forest staff found the body and alerted the Eriyur police, who are now leading the investigation. The DFO stated his staff were unarmed on the day of the escape. An autopsy is underway at Dharmapuri government medical college hospital. The incident marks the first poaching of its kind in the Pennagaram range, according to forest officials.
First Piper 