Bhanjanagar: In a bizarre case of poaching gone wrong, a poacher accidentally shot his friend dead while the duo had ventured into the forest for hunting.
The incident occurred in Radhapadar forest under Tarsingh police limits of Ganjam district, late Wednesday night.
The deceased has been identified as Sunil Nayak.
Police registered a case of murder and sent the body for autopsy to Bhanjanagar sub-divisional hospital Thursday morning.
The accused has been identified as Kandha Nayak of the same village.
According to locals, the friends had ventured into the forest near their village for hunting late Wednesday night. While trying to hit a target, Kandha accidentally fired a shot that hit his friend Sunil killing him on the spot.
He later returned to the village with his friend’s body and narrated the matter to the villagers. While he claimed to have shot Sunil accidentally, family members of the latter refused to believe him and instead lodged a complaint with police accusing him of murder.