Bhubaneswar: Forest officials on Wednesday arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly setting up an illegal electric trap to catch wild animals in Hindol tehsil of Dhenkanal district.
The accused has been identified as Kalia Naik, a resident of Kantamila village under Hindol tehsil.
According to the Dhenkanal Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), forest officials were conducting patrols in the Hindol forest section when they apprehended Naik for allegedly possessing and setting up an illegal electric hooking arrangement near a water body.
The arrangement was allegedly intended to trap wild animals, the DFO said.
Forest officials seized the electric hooking materials from the spot.
Necessary legal action is being initiated against the accused under the applicable wildlife and forest laws, the DFO said.
The Forest Department has reiterated its zero-tolerance approach towards illegal electric hooking and other activities that pose a threat to wildlife, the DFO said.
