Boudh: Boudh ranger Pradip Kumar Behera has been suspended in connection with death of two tuskers May 26. Earlier, the Divisional Forest Officer of Boudh had suspended three forest officials – Sushil Hota, the forester of elephants’ movements, Jyotiranjan Barik, forest guard of Jamakhol forest beat and Sharat Chandra Nayak, the forester of Beredabari forest range – over the issue.
The officials have been put under suspension on charges of utter negligence and failure to track the movement of the pachyderms in a proper manner. They have also been accused of failing to protect the elephants and guarantee their safety.
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Notably, carcasses of two elephants had been recovered from Baghiapada section of Bankamundi Reserve Compartment-8 forest in Boudh district.
The deaths of the elephants had been investigated and it revealed that the animals were poached for their tusks. Sources said that poachers are rampant in the forests. Now an SIT is also probing the matter and further actions against erring officials is on the cards.