Berhampur: Forest personnel in Odisha have arrested four people who were allegedly trying to poach wild animals by setting fire in a jungle in Ganjam district, officials said Monday.
The accused were held Sunday night while they were trying to torch a portion of the jungle in the Gajalabadi reserve forest of the Surada range in the district.
Two country-made guns, an axe, torchlight, rope, a mobile phone and four motorcycles were seized from their possession, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Ghumusar South Division, BK Acharya, said.
The accused were identified as Niku Pradhan (20), Hiroj Pradhan (23), Saniya Pradhan (24) and Pramod Pradhan (32) of Basabali village near Daringbadi in Kandhamal district, he said.
During patrolling in the reserve forest area, the forest staff, including the anti-poaching squad, tracked down the four accused.
The accused were suspected to be in the forest to kill wild animals after setting fire in the area, he added.
The DFO said patrolling was further intensified in the forest area after the arrest of the four people.
PTI