2 held for tusker’s electrocution

Sonepur/Binka: Forest officials Wednesday arrested a man and his son for their alleged involvement in the electrocution of a tusker at Bardunguri reserve forest under Binka forest range of Subarnapur forest division and district. The accused were identified as Birendra Sharma, 60, and his son Allauddin Sharma, 30 of Mahda village. The accused were later produced in the court from where they were remanded to judicial custody after their bail pleas got rejected. The accused had laid live wires hooked from an overhead power line to poach wild boars. The 15-year-old tusker had got separated from its herd in Loisingha area in Bolangir district and strayed into Bardunguri reserve forest, Monday night. Bolangir and Subarnapur forest officials failed to know the animal’s whereabouts. It came in contact with the live wires and was electrocuted Tuesday. Forest officials had seized 15 kg of electric binding wires from the spot after the animal’s death while Binka forest officials had registered a case in this connection.