Baragada: Two poachers were arrested as Forest department officials foiled an attempt to hunt leopard in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of around 70 forest and police personnel carried out extensive search and raid operations in five villages bordering the sanctuary in Baragada district.
During the operation, two persons identified as Ghanashyam Mirdha (40) and Suprasad Sui (48), both residents of Routpada village in Bargada district bordering Debrigarh, were arrested.
The team seized animal traps, snares, 3 kg of electric hooking wire, 2 kg of cable wire and two bundles of animal trapping nets. Officials said such equipment poses a serious threat to wildlife as it is used for indiscriminate trapping and illegal electrocution.
Officials said the accused were planning to poach a leopard and had laid traps inside the sanctuary for the same. They were arrested by the Lakhanpur Range of Debrigarh authorities and forwarded to court on Wednesday – November 11.
Debrigarh authorities have announced a cash reward of Rs 1,000 for credible information related to poaching. As poachers often hide weapons in villages adjoining the forest, the sanctuary borders are also being scanned with metal detectors and live-wire detectors to sanitise the area.
Officials said the joint operation reflects sustained efforts to strengthen wildlife protection through intelligence-based enforcement, regular patrolling, surveillance and close coordination between the Forest Department, District Police and local communities.