Forest department officials in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district have arrested four poachers for hunting and butchering a Sambar deer inside the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary.
On March 27, while on routine patrol in the Badwalipasi section under Thakurmunda Range, forest staff spotted the accused cutting meat from a Sambar deer near Asankudar Mahali Sahi, close to Sanctuary Cantonment No. TL-8. The poachers fled upon seeing the officials.
A search operation was immediately launched. Arjun Mahali (35) of Asankudar village was apprehended and interrogated. Acting on his information, officials conducted a raid on the morning of March 28 and arrested three more suspects — Sunil Mahali (23) and Bikram Mahali (41) from Asankudar village, and Viraga Dangil (50) from Ranibhol village.
Forest personnel seized 151 kilograms of Sambar meat and two axes from the spot. A case (No. 5 TWL) has been registered against the four under Sections 9, 27, 29, 31, 39, 49B, and 52 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The accused were produced before the Baripada CJM Court, where their bail applications were rejected. They have been remanded to judicial custody.
