The key accused in the murder of a forest guard working in Similipal Reserve Forest was apprehended from Musabani under Jharkhand’s East-Singhbhum district on Monday night.
As per the police, the accused goes by the name Krushna Singh and he was hiding in Musabani after shooting the forest guard on the night of May 22. Another accused was also nabbed from the same place who was identified as Govardhan Singh.
Informing about the case, SP (in-charge) of Mayurbhanj, Sagarika Nath said, “As per our initial inquiry, we suspected that at least 10 poachers are involved in the murder of the forest guard. But after a detailed investigation, we have identified 26 accused in the case. All the accused have been identified by their names.”
We have already apprehended seven accused, and the search is on for the other 19 accused.
"The key accused was arrested yesterday night from Musabani in Jharkhand in a joint operation with Jharkhand Police,” Nath said.
The police have also recovered nine country-made pistols, four defunct pistols, axes, bows, and arrows from the accused.
On May 22, forest guard, Bimal Kumar Jena was killed after being shot by poachers in Naana jungle under Similipal Pithabata forest range in Mayurbhanj.