Similipal Crackdown: Three Poachers Nabbed with Guns and Ammo
Key Points
Three poachers arrested in Similipal buffer zone with country-made firearms and live ammunition.
Joint raid conducted by Kaptipada Forest Division and STPF during routine patrol. One suspect escaped; hunt continues to track down the fourth individual and dismantle the poaching network.
Mayurbhanj, Jul 12: In a joint operation, the Kaptipada Forest Division and Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) apprehended three poachers inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve buffer zone near the Not Beat area.
The arrests were made during a routine patrol when forest officials intercepted a group of four individuals suspected of illegal hunting activity.
According to forest officials, the poachers had entered the forest with the intent to hunt. Upon spotting the patrol team, one of the suspects managed to escape, while the remaining three were caught red-handed. The arrested individuals have been identified as Jagannath Nayak, Buddhiram Singh, and Kuanr Murmu.
During the raid, authorities seized three country-made firearms and six live bullets from the suspects. The weapons were reportedly used for hunting wild animals in the protected forest area.
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✨Forest officials stated that the operation was part of an intensified anti-poaching drive in and around Similipal, which is home to endangered species including tigers, elephants, and leopards.
The buffer zone, though not as strictly protected as the core area, remains a critical habitat for wildlife and is under constant surveillance.
The arrested individuals have been booked under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, and further investigation is underway to identify the fourth suspect and uncover any larger poaching network.
Officials emphasized that such coordinated efforts are crucial to safeguarding Odisha’s rich biodiversity and preventing illegal wildlife trade.
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