Bhubaneswar: Expressing concern over poachers’ attack on forest department officials late last night at Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, PCCF Wildlife Susanta Nanda ordered a combing operation inside the sanctuary from Wednesday to root out poachers.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) informed that a joint team comprising Special Tiger Protection Force and Ex-Army personnel will intensify combing operations in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary from tomorrow. Nanda has asked poachers to surrender arms otherwise face legal action.
At least two members of the Forest Department’s anti-poaching squad were injured when poachers fired at them in the Kuldiha forests during the early hours of Tuesday.
On March 19 at about 2 am, staff of the Kuldiha forest range under the Balasore division came across two poachers inside the Kuldiha sanctuary. They have been arrested, Chief Wildlife Warden, Shri Nanda said.
The Forest officials were chasing the poachers since 8 pm on Monday and they faced off with the poachers at about 2 am. Suddenly, the poachers opened fire on the team. Despite firing, the forest team was able to catch the two armed poachers, he said.
The injured forest personnel were first rushed to Balasore district headquarters hospital. However, they were later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. Two poachers have been arrested, rifles seized and further investigation is going on, said a forest official.
“Two staff were injured when fired upon. They are out of danger. Praying for their early recovery. Salutations to the team,” the PCCF Wildlife wrote on X.
