A team of forest department officials on a routine patrol in the forest area spotted the group moving with gunny bags last evening. When the officials intercepted them and checked the bags, they found deer meat and skin, officials said today.
During questioning, the five allegedly confessed that they killed a sambar by trapping it with the help of a net and killed it for collecting meat and skin for sale.
All the five were arrested and produced before a magistrate court in Sathyamangalam which remanded them in judicial custody for 15 days.