Forest Guard Shot Dead In Odisha’s Similipal; 2 Poachers Arrested

Baripada: A day after a forest guard was shot dead in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, two poachers were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the killing.

Forest guard Bimal Kumar Jena from Baunsakhala beat house in Mayurbhanj was shot dead allegedly by poachers when he was patrolling on Monday evening along with four other personnel.

Sources said the team was patrolling in bordering areas of Pithabata south range and Na’na north range when it encountered a group of poachers. In a bid to escape, the poachers allegedly opened fire at the forest guard. Jena sustained gunshot wound on his chest and died.

Stating that ten people involved in the incident have been identified,  PCCF (Wildlife) Sushil Kumar Popli said two of the accused poachers have been arrested and a search operation is underway to nab others.

Stringent action will be taken against the accused persons, he said. A country-made firearm has been recovered and seized from the possession of the arrested poachers.

As many as five teams comprising forest personnel and police are jointly conducting the combing operation. “I have held discussion about the situation with the DG and Additional DG of Police,” the PCCF reportedly said.