Four held for poaching blackbuck

Berhampur: At least four persons, including a college student, were arrested today for allegedly poaching an endangered blackbuck near Sandhamula village in Ganjam district.

A country-made gun and two motorbikes were seized from their possession, while the carcass of the blackbuck was recovered from the spot in Berhampur forest division's Khallikote range, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Berhampur, A K Behera said.

Those accused have been identified as Ashok Kumar Swain (26), Anil Kumar (23), Banabashi Behera (24) and Ashok Kumar Beehra (19).

Preliminary investigation suggest that the accused persons are not professional poachers and the reason for hunting the blackbuck is yet to be ascertained, the DFO said.

The poachers were detained by the residents of a nearby village when they heard the gun-shot and came to know about killing of the animal.

Forest personnel, who were patrolling near the village,rushed immediately after being informed by the villagers,Forest range officer D K Martha said.