Baripada: A forest guard was shot dead by poachers inside Similipal National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Monday evening, officials said on Tuesday. This is the first such case of a forest guard killed by poachers within the sanctuary, according to the officials.
The deceased has been identified as Bimal Kumar Jena, 40. He was posted at Baunsakhala bear (??) under Pithabata range, in the core area of Similipal sanctuary, Asia’s second-largest biosphere reserve and home to Royal Bengal Tigers.
“Ten suspects have been identified, and police arrested two of them early (Tuesday) morning and recovered a country-made pistol from them. Efforts are on to arrest the others,” principal chief conservator of forest, wildlife, S K Popli said.
According to officials, the incident took place around 7.30 pm Monday when Bimal, along with other guards, was on regular patrolling. “The team found a group of people carrying a barking deer, which was alive. When the forest guards tried to nab them, they opened fire without any provocation,” Popli said.
Shot on his chest, Jena was taken to Baripada Hospital around 10.15 pm, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, Popli said. He said there was no exchange of fire since the patrolling party did not have firearms.
Stating that he spoke with the Director General of Police, Popli said a search operation was launched immediately after the incident, considering the fact that the poachers were inside the reserve forest.
