Brahmapur: In a tragic incident highlighting the deadly consequences of illegal wildlife hunting, a 42-year-old farmer was electrocuted after stepping on a live electric wire allegedly laid by poachers to hunt wild boars in a paddy field in Odisha’s Ganjam district.
The incident took place near Pratapgiri village under Sanakhemundi block of the district late on Monday.
The deceased, Mehenkal Nayak of Pratapgiri village, had gone to his farmland with some other farmers to irrigate paddy crops after dinner. While walking along the field bund, he accidentally stepped on the live wire and suffered a severe electric shock, sustaining extensive burns to his legs, thighs and lower body.
His family members and local residents rushed him to the Adapada Community Health Centre (CHC), where doctors declared him dead. Police later seized the body and sent it to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for post-mortem examination. His last rites were performed at the village cremation ground on Tuesday amid profound grief.
On being informed, Patapur Section Forester Santosh Kumar Sahu, a team of Patapur police and electricity department personnel visited the spot and conducted a preliminary inquiry.
Acting on a complaint lodged by the deceased’s father, Nakula Nayak, police registered a case (No. 331/26) under the supervision of Inspector-in-Charge Dipti Ranjan Behera and launched an investigation.
Illegal wildlife hunting has reportedly become a growing concern in the Digapahandi forest range. On August 8, 2024, forest officials arrested an alleged poacher, Amir Das, during a raid at Nuagumma village near Mathura in Sanakhemundi block and seized around five kg of wild boar meat and hunting traps. The accused was forwarded to court in connection with forest case No. 80/24-25.
In two separate incidents on January 2 and 30 this year, two elephants died in forests near Dhepaguda and Bhimanagar villages after coming in contact with electric wires allegedly laid to hunt wild boars. The accused in those cases were arrested and forwarded to court.
Digapahandi Range Officer Dibya Ranjan Sahu described the latest incident as extremely sensitive. He said forest personnel were regularly patrolling the area and conducting awareness programmes in nearby villages to promote wildlife protection.
Appealing to the public to cooperate with the Forest Department, he urged residents to provide confidential information about those involved in illegal hunting, stressing that wildlife poaching is a punishable offence.