Balasore: Forest department officials arrested six more poachers during a combing operation late Wednesday night in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
According to sources, Similipal Tiger Protection Force, Nilagiri Police and Forest Department sleuths carried out a joint raid and nabbed six poachers near Dheunchakhala. Police have seized six guns and traps used for animal poaching from their possession.
Talking to mediapersons, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Sushant Nanda said the drive is ongoing and we intensified raids in the sanctuary after firing incident at forest personnel on duty.
The Forest Department intensified combing operation in Kuldiha Sanctuary after poachers opened fire at forest officials on patrolling duty and injured two of them late Monday night.
The injured identified as Khitish Parida and Biranchi Jena of the anti-poaching squad were initially admitted to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital and later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Earlier a forester was gunned down by poachers in Similipal Sanctuary.
Concerned over rampant poaching in the sanctuary, the department intensified combing operations to make the sanctuary free from poachers.
