Baripada: As part of its drive against poachers in the Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district, the police on Friday seized eight country-made guns and arrested three people in two separate incidents.
The accused have been identified as Mahendra Singh (30), Shyamsundar Singh (28) and Madan Singh (35). Three country-made guns were seized from their houses.
“A raid was conducted at Rentasahi village under Badasahi police limits on Friday night based on a piece of intelligence input. We have arrested three persons and have seized three country-made guns. Similarly, we have developed several sources through PRI contact programme. On the basis of information collected through these sources we had conducted a search in Bahalda forest under Khunta police limits and seized five country-made guns hidden in the forest” informed Mayurbhanj SP Battula Gangadhar addressing a presser here today.
The SP said that further investigation into the matter is underway to find out who has manufactured these guns.
He said ‘Operation Clean-Up Similipal’ will continue.
“Our target is de-weaponization. Three platoons of forces have been deployed at different beat houses. They are engaged in patrolling using vehicle and foot patrolling as well,” he added.
Himanshu Lal, IG (Eastern Range) who was also present during the presser informed that within the last few days since ‘Operation Clean-Up Similipal’ is underway more than 16 weapons have been recovered.
“The operation will continue and our objective is to sanitize Similipal. We will ensure that no such incident happens in Similipal in the future,” said Lal.
Udala SDPO Sarthak Ray, IIC of Badasahi police station Sanjay Parida and IIC of Khunta police station Lopamudra Nayak and other police officials were present during the press conference.
