Bhanja Sena’s Stir For Similipal Protection Hits Vehicular Traffic In Odisha’s Mayurbhanj

Baripada: Normal life was disrupted at several places in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Thursday as activists of Bhanja Sena, a local outfit, launched an agitation and staged road blockade against rise in poaching of wild animals in Similipal National Park.

Demanding concrete measures for the protection of Similipal National Park, the protesters blocked roads and National Highways No. 49 and 18 at different places, disrupting vehicular movement, sources said.

The agitators staged road blockade on the Udala-Baripada main road in Kaptipada sub-division in the morning, leaving a large number of vehicles stranded at several places.

Accusing the forest department of officials of having failed to take effective steps to curb poaching wild animals in the sanctuary area, they alleged that a large numbers of wild animals are being poached regularly. Smuggling of tusks and tiger skin is also being carried out by wildlife criminals, they alleged.

The protesters demanded immediate measures by the forest department to check poaching of wild animals and protect the ecology Similipal forests. Regular patrolling should be intensified to curb the activities of poachers, they added.