Bantala: Acting on a tip-off that twelve poachers, camped at Tainsi reserved forest compartment-10 in Angul district, are on a hunting spree using country made guns over the past two days, forest personnel arrested the accused group of poachers Saturday morning.
Also read: Hunters eye wild animals, sambar rescued
The arrest in this connection was made by forest rangers of Pampasar and Purunakote who immediately raided the forest area and arrested eight persons, on receiving the information, forest officials said.
The accused have been identified as Sushant Bhoi and Sushant Pradhan of Baramha village under Thakurgarh police limits; Jayanta Bhoi and Ajaya Bhoi of Tarabha village including Ranjan Bhoi, Siddheswar Bhoi and Jogeswar Bhoi of Badakheta village and Nilakantha Bargia of Salar village, all under Purunakote police limits.
However, four others managed to flee from the spot. Forest personnel seized a country made gun, headlamps, an axe including a bike (OD-19 1545) from the group of poachers.
Sushant, the main accused, has been learnt to own the gun. The group hunted wild animals at Chhutamunda reserved forest compartment on the days of July 3, 5 and 12. After hunting down the animals, the group had allegedly distributed meat and feasted at Nilakanth’s house.
Notably, poaching and hunting activities are on the rise in Satakosia wildlife sanctuary in the district. Wild animals like rabbit, deer and Kutura are often hunted for meat purposes.
PNN