Bhubaneswar: Acting upon the photographs captured in the confidentially placed IR trap camera in the Pithabata South Wild Life Range, a team of Forest department personnel led by ACF and Pithabata South staff arrested five poachers from Besarpani village under Baripada Sadar police limits under Baripada Sadar Range of Baripada Division.
According to a press release issued by Dr Samrat Gowda, Deputy director Similipal South Wildlife Division, the arrested poachers include Karunakar Mallik (28), Kartika Bhakta (30), Bhola Bhakta (29), Gunu Bhakta (30), and Rabi Bhakta (50).
The team recovered and seized three unloaded guns, one loaded gun, 100 gm of gun powder, two headlights, two big hand saws, one clutch wire snare, 200 pellets, one set bamboo snare from their houses inside the Similipal following raids.
A case has been registered in this connection.
The accused were identified using intelligence processed by the staff of the Similipal Wildlife Intelligence Network (SWIN). The accused have been forwarded to the court of the SDJM, Baripada, for remand to judicial custody. They will be further booked under the Arms Act, 1959, for violation of the said Act along with WPA, 1972.