Police on Friday arrested four poachers from Tamana Reserve Forest in Ganjam district. Along with two deer skulls with horns, the cops also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from their possession.
The accused have been identified as Purna Gouda alias Chian of Singabadi village, Sankar Pradhan of Medinipur village, Bhalia Mallick alias Abhi, and Brundaban Mallick of Kanheiput village. The accused are reportedly members of most-wanted Kuna Behera’s gang, informed sources. Kuna Behera is now in jail.
According to the Golanthara Police, acting on a reliable tip-off regarding the movement of one of the accused in Tamana Reserve Forest, a police team along with Sadar SDPO conducted a raid on Thursday afternoon. Seeing the police, the accused persons tried to escape into the forest but were nabbed.
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Two country-made muzzle loading single barrel guns, 125 live cartridges (65 MM), 200 empty cartridges, lead splinter balls weighing 10 Kg, small-sized lead splinter balls weighing 250 grams, gun powder weighing 200 grams, two lead bar used in making the splinter balls, one head torch light used for hunting, equipment used for assembling the cartridges and two deer skulls with horns were seized from the accused.
The police have launched a probe to find out the involvement of other persons. They will return the seized horns to the Forest Department for the registration of a case under the Wildlife Act and further investigation on their end.