Mananthavady: The Forest Department took into custody a man late Tuesday evening for allegedly setting fire to the forests in Kambamala Hills, near Thalappuzha. The accused, identified as 27-year-old Vellachalil Sudheesh, a native of Thrissilery, is suspected to be directly involved in two separate fire incidents in the area.

Based on suspicions that the fire was intentionally started, a team of forest personnel had been stationed undercover at the sites where fires were reported. When the forest was set ablaze again on Tuesday, the personnel, who had been waiting at the scene, caught Sudheesh red-handed, according to sources in the Forest Department.

The officials are currently interrogating Sudheesh to determine his motive for setting the fires. He is expected to be handed over to the police soon.

Sudheesh has a criminal history, with several cases registered against him at Tirunelli and Mananthavadi police stations, including for possession of ganja saplings. He is a habitual offender and has been wanted in multiple cases. Additionally, Sudheesh is reportedly wanted in a case involving a woman’s complaint for cheating and for posting a picture of himself with a firearm on social media.

A wildfire broke out again on Tuesday in the Kambamala Hills near Pilakkavu, Thalappuzha, just a day after a massive blaze ravaged over five hectares of forest. Forest officials believe both fires were man-made rather than natural.

North Wayanad divisional forest officer (DFO) KJ Martin Lowell told reporters that this was the second wildfire in the region in just a few days. “It is too early in the season for recurring wildfires, as the undergrowth is not dry enough to ignite naturally,” he said. “There is no possibility of a natural wildfire at this point.”

Wildfires—both natural and man-made—are common in Wayanad during the peak of summer. Forest-dwelling communities often set controlled fires to secure firewood for the monsoon season. Accidental fires are also a concern, with carelessly discarded cigarette butts capable of triggering massive blazes within minutes.