Dhenkanal: The in-charge forester of Hindol range in Odisha’s Dhenkanal forest division was allegedly shot dead by poachers during patrolling in the early hours of Saturday
The deceased has been identified as Prahallad Pradhan.
According to sources, the incident took place around 3.30 am when a 8-member forest team carried out a raid following inputs about the presence of poachers at a farm house near Kai reserve forest. “The patrolling team came face-to-face with a poachers’ gang at Tantichira village. They engaged in close combat following which gun shots were fired. The in-charge forester was hit in the stomach and was rushed to a health facility at Hindol in an ambulance. He was then referred to Angul district headquarters hospital, where he was declared dead,” Dhenkanal DFO Sumit Kar told reporters.
He added that four poachers have been arrested and a gun has been seized from them.
Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a compensation of Rs 30 lakh for the bereaved family of Pradhan. He has also directed the PCCF to go to the spot and conduct further investigation.