'Poacher' death in Odisha Forest dept custody: DFO, ACF, Ranger charged with murder

In a fresh development in the death of a poacher allegedly in Forest department custody in Badamba forest range under Cuttack’s Athgarh division, the police charged the accused DFO, ACF, Ranger and other forest officials with murder on Monday.

As per reports, an FIR was registered under sections 302, 401, 341, 294, 354, 365, Arms Act and Atrocities Act following a complaint by the wife of the deceased, Dhaneswar Behera.

Speaking to reporters, the Additional SP, Cuttack Rural said, “We have registered an FIR against the DFO Athgarh, Range Officer Badamba, ACF and other Forest department employees following a complaint that a poaching accused was beaten to death in their custody.”

“The case will be investigated by the SDPO Athgarh,” he informed.

Dhaneswar Behera, a resident of Khuntakata Satagochhia village, was picked up by the Forest department officials on Sunday on charges of poaching a tusker and removing its tusks.

However, he died under mysterious circumstances in the Forest department custody triggering tension in the area.

While the family members of the deceased along with fellow villagers staged a roadblock at Barsingh square demanding justice, irate locals set the Banpur beat house on fire.

(Reported By Nilakantha Dora, OTV)