Mayurbhanj: Police and Forest Department personnel seized at least 71 country-made guns from poachers during joint raids at different areas of Similipal National Park, only home to the melanistic tigers in the wild, in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Tuesday.
According to reports, the raids were a part of the crackdown against poachers in the wildlife sanctuary.
During the first phase of the crackdown in August this year, police and Forest Department personnel seized 156 country-made guns and arrested more than 26 poachers. In both phases combined, they have seized 227 guns and lodged 80 cases against the poachers.
The increasing poacher menace in Simlipal National Park, especially the killing of two forest guards earlier this year, compelled the police and Forest Department to launch a crackdown on wildlife hunters and dealers in the region in 14 police station areas.
The Mayurbhanj district police had deployed three platoons of force inside the wildlife sanctuary to deal with the crime and nab the poachers.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Mayurbhanj SP B Gangadhar said, “Today we have seized 70 country-made guns, one air gun, and a pair of deer horns. So far, we have registered 32 cases against the poachers under the Arms Act 27 and several Sections of the Wildlife Act.”
“Every week 100 policemen along with the local Sarpanch and forester are patrolling each beat of Similipal Tiger Reserve thrice every week. Our aim is to de-weaponise the forest area and make it poacher-free,” he said, adding, “At the same time, we have also launched an awareness campaign in the area and sought the help of the villagers in making the wildlife sanctuary weapon-free. We have warned the villagers of action if they do not cooperate with the police.
It is worth mentioning here that nearly 8,000 forest frontline workers, including guards, foresters, and deputy rangers, across Odisha had gone on a token strike over the killing of two of their colleagues. Perturbed over the development, Union Minister of Environment and Forest Bhupender Yadav had written to the state government suggesting stepping up the intelligence network and patrolling and combing operations in the area.
