Baripada: Acting on a tip-off, Forest department officials arrested Monday five poachers during a raid at Paikabasa village under Baripada Sadar police limits in Mayurbhanj district. The accused were identified as Sunaram Barik of Paikabasa village, Budhiram Singh and Jiten Shyam Singh of Lalganj village under Baripada Sadar police limits, Sundar Mohan of Karakachia village under Rairangpur Sadar police limits and Rama Bindhani of Purunapani village under Betanoti police limits.
The skeletal remains of a dead elephant and other wild animals, a tortoise shell, two country-made guns and two mobile phones were seized from their possession. The raid was led by deputy director (South) of Similipal Tiger Reserve and the divisional forest officer of Baripada
The raid took place when the accused persons had gathered at the house of Sunaram and were discussing rates at which to sell the skeletal remains of the wild animals. Police said that all the accused had been arrested earlier also for the same offence.
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