Shepherd sustains pellet injuries in Chittoor
A 75-year-old shepherd in Chittoor district was injured by pellets after suspected poachers fired into a thicket. The victim is in stable condition, and local authorities have launched an investigation to identify the suspects.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing risks posed by illegal poaching activities to rural residents and wildlife in forest-adjacent areas.
A 75-year-old shepherd sustained pellet injuries after suspected poachers allegedly opened fire inside a forest area near Nemalichenu hamlet in Veernamala panchayat of Ramakuppam mandal in Chittoor district on Friday (July 10, 2026).
The victim, identified as Rajamanikyam, was grazing his sheep when a group of unidentified individuals, suspected of being on a poaching expedition, allegedly fired into a thicket in an attempt to hunt a wild animal. The pellets struck Rajamanikyam in the shoulder blade and both arms, causing him to collapse.
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