Erode: A farmer has been arrested at Rasapalayam in the district for allegedly killing nine peacocks, which damaged his watermelon field.
A team of forest officials accompanied by police rushed to the area yesterday on receiving information about the dead birds.
They found the carcasses strewn all over the watermelon field. The man on being questioned allegedly confessed to having poisoned the birds.
Officials suspect he might have mixed the poison in rice and other food which the birds then ingested, leading to their deaths.
The man was later produced before a court and remanded to 15 days judicial custody
Hundreds of peacocks are seen in fields in Perundurai, Chennimalai, Nasiyanure, Kanjikoil, Thingalure and Gobichettipalayam areas. Farmers frequently complain about damage to crops by the birds.
