Owls for black magic in Telangana polls seized

HYDERABAD: The Karnataka Police arrested six persons in Kalaburagi district and seized two Indian eagle-owls which it said were meant to be handed over to certain politicians in poll-bound Telangana to be used for bringing misfortune to their opponents.

According to the police, the owls were being carried by the poachers to be sold for Rs 3-4 lakh a bird.

Many people consider owls auspicious because in Hindu mythology the owl is associated with goddess Lakshmi. However, some people believe owls bring bad luck.


The poachers reportedly told the police that the particular species of owls were used for some kind of black magic rituals in which the owls would be killed and their body parts and blood thrown into the premises of opponents to defeat them.

Later, Kalaburagi’s assistant conservator of forests, RR Yadav, facilitated the release of the two seized owls back into their habitats.

The forest officials of Karnataka have given instructions to the staff to be on high alert to prevent poachers from capturing the Indian eagle-owls along the border with Telangana. Karnataka has also sought assistance of wildlife nongovernmental organisations to spread awareness and bust myths associated with such rare birds.