Bhubaneswar: With the help of remotely placed AI (artificial intelligence) cameras, the forest officials able to arrest five poachers inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife, Susanta Nanda informed about the achievement of the forest team Simlipal and said he felt extremely proud for their work.
“Remotely placed AI cameras captured the images of poachers entering Simlipal. All were arrested & four country made guns were seized. Time for persons still engaged in such adventurism to stay clear of the protected areas,” PCCF Shri Nanda said on X.
Acting upon the photographs captured in the confidentially placed AI trap camera in Pithabata South wildlife Range, a team led by ACF and Pithabata South staff arrested five accused.
The arrested accused are—Karunakar Mallik (28), Kartika Bhakta (30), Bhola Bhakta (29), Gunu Bhakta (30) and Rabi Bhakta (50).
The Forest officials have seized three unloaded guns, one loaded gun, Gun powder: 100 gm, Head light:2, Big Hand saw: 2, clutch wire snare :1, 200 pellets and one set of Bamboo snare set from their house premises and also inside Similipal forest kept under concealment during the house raid followed by discovery of evidences.
A case has been registered and the accused have been forwarded to court of SDJM, Baripada for remand into judicial custody. They will be further booked under Arms Act, 1959 on violation of said act along with WPA, 1972, the officials said.