Bhubaneswar: A 37-year-old forest guard was killed after being shot by poachers during a routine patrol in the Hindol forest region in Dhenkanal district on Friday night.
The deceased has been identified as Prahlad Pradhan.
As per reports, Pradhan was part of a 13-member forest team patrolling the area when the attack took place. Critically injured by the gunfire, he was rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in Angul, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The incident, which occurred in the Kai Reserve Forest near Tantichira, has raised concerns about the safety of forest personnel combating illegal poaching.
Police have detained four suspected poachers soon after the incident, while several other suspects involved in the attack fled the scene. Police have seized firearms from the four poachers and are conducting detailed interrogations to gain deeper insights into their poaching activities.
