The deceased has been identified as Dhaneswar Behera (59), a resident of Satagochhia village of Bandamba area.
The matter came to the fore after family members filed a complaint with the Athagarh police in this regard.
According to reports, forest officials had detained Dhaneswar in connection with killing of an elephant. He died while under custody of forest officials.
Acting on the complaint, the Athagarh police have detained two ACFs of the Athgarh Forest Division, and Ranger and six to seven employees of Badamba forest range. Athgarh SDPO and other police officials have reached the police station and started interrogating the forest officers.
Meanwhile, tension has prevailed in the area as villagers have staged a protest demanding arrest of the ACFs and adequate compensation for the deceased’s family.
Notably, a wild male elephant had been found dead at Hipinda reserve forest under Badamba range on January 30. The forest department is conducting an investigation into the matter.
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