Baripada: In a significant operation, forest officials have arrested three poachers in the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.
As per reports, the accused, identified as Lachhu Murmu (48), Madhusudan Murmu (38), and Ghasiram Tudu (35), were apprehended with advanced weapons, including three Single Barrel Breech Loading (SBBL) guns and 17 cartridges, five of which were live.
The poachers were tracked down with the help of AI Trailguard cameras installed within the sanctuary, which captured their photographs. The accused have been forwarded to the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Baripada and have been sent to judicial custody after their bail was rejected.
An FIR has been lodged against the poachers for violating the Arms Act, 1959. It is learnt that the accused are habitual offenders who have been using advanced weapons to hunt wild animals in the sanctuary.
Further investigation is currently underway.
