Balasore: Two Forest Department staffers were injured when poachers opened fire on them while they were patrolling near Panchalingeswar beat in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha’s Balasore district late on Monday.
The injured have been as identified as Khitish Parida and Biranchi Jena of Sabuja Vahini (volunteers of anti-poaching squad). They were initially admitted to the Balasore district headquarters hospital and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for better treatment.
The incident took place around 2 pm when a patrolling team was sent to apprehend the poachers following a tip-off about their presence in the sanctuary. Despite being fired upon, the squad managed to nab the two poachers– Sania Singh of Chekamara village and Guna Singh of Kainmagadia village. Two country-made guns were seized from their possession.
Taking to ‘X’, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Susanta Nanda informed about the operation and that the injured are currently out of danger. He also wished them quick recovery.
The attack inside a sanctuary comes about nine months after a forester and a forest guard were shot dead by poachers inside Similipal Tiger reserve of Mayurbhanj district.
