The patrolling staff of Kaptipada wildlife range arrested 7 poachers for killing a barking deer. The officials seized around 8 kg of barking deer meat and fire arms from their possession.

The poachers were intercepted near Bakhakhamana under Podadiha section of the Kaptipada wildlife range, following raids by the wildlife department with the help of Sabuja Bahini volunteers after they received information that a group of poachers had entered the Simlipal sanctuary.

The accused are residents of Itagargh under Jamudiha gram panchayat. They have been identified as Buka Marandi, 60, Mirza Soren, 35, Narayan Murmu, 28, Bhaja Marandi, 29, Girish Soren, 50, Sabala Tudu, 32 and Chama Soren, 28.

Betnati range officer Maheswar Singh said the poachers were apprehended with fire arms and deer meat. They have been produced before the court after being booked under the Wildlife Protection Act,1972, he said.

“The raid was conducted following an intelligence report that a group of armed poachers had intruded into the sanctuary with 5 country-made guns. About 8 kg of barking deer meat were seized from their possession when they were trying to flee during the raid. Entry into the core area is prohibited and killing of wildlife is unlawful,” Singh said.

“Despite conducting awareness drives at regular intervals among the villages especially in the foothill villages of Simlipal sanctuary poaching incidents are reported regularly. The vigil in the forest areas is stepped up and patrolling has been intensified as poachers become active after monsoon,” said Baripada divisional forest officer Swayam Malik.

In another development, the forest staff of Satkosia under Karanjia division arrested 2 criminals on the charge of felling teak trees planted by the department 15 years ago beside National Highway-53, in Godabhanga area. The accused persons are identified as Atakrushna Nayak, 35 and Magulu Maharana, 30. Both of them are from Satkosia.

“The arrested persons were caught felling trees while two others managed to escape,” said the assistant conservator of forests, Batakrushna Padhi.

“They had cut two trees before the raiding teams arrived. While, two of them could be apprehended other two managed to escape,” Padhi said.