Khuntuni: In a bizarre incident that took place Sunday afternoon, the lower jaw of a domestic cow was blown off after the animal chewed an explosive allegedly planted by someone for hunting wild boar.
The fatal incident was reported from Sasan Sahi of Bali village under Khuntuni forest range and Athagarh block in Cuttack district.
A source said that the cow was in search of food when it came across the previously planted explosive. As the hungry animal chewed the explosive, at once, it blasted leading to grievous injuries.
Following the incident, the cow writhed in pain for long hours.
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Initially it was noticed by a local youth who later informed others about the mishap. A group of villagers along with the cow owner rushed the herbivore to a wildlife veterinarian at Gurudijhatia for treatment.
The injured animal belongs to a resident of Sasan Sahi of Bali village named Ratnakar Dash. “My cow had gone out to a nearby wetland for grazing. Someone had planted an explosive for hunting wild boar, due to which the fatal incident occurred,” Dash said.
When contacted, the veterinarian Manoranjan Lenka said, “The cow has been critically injured in the blast. Survival of the herbivore is very difficult as its muzzle and lower jaw have been damaged.”
A similar incident had taken place last month in Banki area of Cuttack district. The health condition of another cow became severe after it swallowed an explosive planted for wild boar hunting.
Later, the cow was taken to government veterinary hospital at Sahid Nagar in Bhubaneswar and it luckily survived after treatment.
It is alleged that, a number of wild boar hunters use explosives in Bali and its nearby villages. They also conveniently hunt wild animals as the village is located in the close vicinity of a vast forest area.
The hunters are very active in Athagarh and Khuntuni ranges as no regular raids are conducted by forest personnel. They sell the meat of wild animals for handsome earning.
On being contacted, Oranda forester Rakesh Kumar Dalei said, “We are taking appropriate steps after getting any tip-off.”
It is pertinent to mention here that a minor girl was grievously injured Sunday forenoon by unidentified hunters after she was mistaken as a wild boar. The mishap took place at Lamti village in Kulta panchayat under Dharuadihi police limits of Sundargarh district.
The girl identified as Urbashi Naik (15) belongs to Dhumagada. She lives at her uncle’s home in Lamti and studies at Birabira College.
At around 11.00am, Urbashi had gone to a nearby forest for collecting firewood. When she was searching firewood, the minor girl received a bullet injury because of a shot fired by some hunters.
Urbashi was rushed to a hospital and she is presently undergoing treatment. Police have registered a case and launched a probe in this connection. Two persons have been detained for quizzing.
The girls condition is stated to be in danger.
PNN