First arrest in Theni forest fire: Police nabs 30-yr-old tourist guide

Theni: A 30-year-old man, believed to be a tour guide who led a 36-member trekking group on an ill-fated expedition in the district, has been arrested, police said on Tuesday.

Ten people -- seven women and three men -- were killed in a forest fire in Kurangani hills in Western Ghats on Saturday, with the incident sending shock waves.

Read: 10 trekkers killed in massive fire in Theni forest, IAF conducts rescue ops

Ranjith was arrested on Monday night, they said, adding that he was being questioned to ascertain whether he had any links with a Chennai-based group which is believed to have arranged for the expedition that turned tragic.

Police are probing, among others, how the trekkers came into contact with Ranjith, a local.

The 36-member team -- 24 people from Chennai and 12 from Tirupur and Erode districts -- had embarked on the trekking expedition and reached Kurangani hills on March 10.

The team included 25 women and three children.