Baripada : Odisha police Saturday seized eight country-made guns and a pistol hidden by poachers to prey on wild animals inside Similipal National Park, a senior police official said.
Mayurbhanj district superintendent of police B Gangadhar said the police came across the firearms which were hidden inside Tunki and Baniabasa area of the buffer zone of the Simlipal Tiger Reserve during a special drive by police to de-weaponize and weed out arms and poachers.
Northern range IG Himanshu Kumar Lal tweeted, “Today, on this momentous day of tiger preservation, Mayurbhanj police @spmayurbhanj achieved a significant milestone in their unwavering commitment to tiger protection. They successfully seized eight SBML country-made guns and one country-made pistol from illegal poachers operating in Simlipal Tiger Reserve. With a resolute determination, Mayurbhanj police vows to eliminate poaching activities and safeguard the majestic tigers of Simlipal. #SaveOurTigers.”
A case has been registered at Khunta police station and an investigation is on. Some persons have been interrogated but no arrest has been made so far, the SP said.
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Since the incidents of the killing of a forester and a forest guard by poachers in May-June this year, three platoons of armed police force were deployed inside the Similipal sanctuary area and a hunt is on to trace the forest bandits active inside the sanctuary.
At least 20 poachers were apprehended, 23 country-made guns were seized and one manufacturing center of country-made was spotted during the special drive in the last fortnight, the SP added.
PTI
