KAKINADA: A 21-year-old youth, who was shot by hunters in the forest area of Devipatnam, died on the way to the government hospital in Kakinada on Sunday.
According to the Devipatnam police, Posi Ratnam of Dandangi village was working as a temporary guard in the forest department and was accompanied by a certain Varalakshmi of the forest department to the forest for assistance.
They came across the hunters and when confronted, they were reportedly shot at. Ratnam sustained bullet injuries in the rib cage on the right side. He was first rushed to Rajamahendravaram and on the advice of the doctors, he was later shifted to Kakinada. Doctors at Kakinada government general hospital declared him brought dead after examining him.
According to his uncle Jitender, the youth joined the forest duty four months ago, in the place of the guard, who fell sick. The Devipatnam police registered a case and took up investigation. The police said they found a country-made rifle in the bushes where the incident happened. A manhunt is on for the hunters, who had reportedly shot the youth, they added.