Baripada: In a joint enforcement operation, officials of the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary South Division, in coordination with Kaptipada Police, apprehended five suspected poachers following intelligence inputs generated from AI-enabled surveillance cameras.
According to an official press note, photographs captured by AI cameras inside the sanctuary indicated the presence of armed individuals, prompting swift action by enforcement teams. Acting on the leads, a raid was conducted at a house in Katuria village under Kaptipada police limits in Baripada.
During the operation, five persons—Mahendra Murmu, Dama Soren, Laxman Murmu, Ramjit Murmu, and Meghanad Murmu—were apprehended.
A search of the premises led to the recovery and seizure of three country-made firearms along with certain illegal substances, officials said.
All the accused have been taken into custody and produced before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Baripada, for further legal proceedings.
Authorities said the operation underscores the increasing use of technology-driven surveillance, including AI-based monitoring systems, to curb poaching and illegal activities inside protected forest areas.
