Boinda: Poaching has become a new normal these days in the reserve forest of Angul districts, thanks to easy availability of pistols and guns at door steps at throwaway prices.
The illegal pistol business is fast flourishing in the villages particularly under Handapa and Thakurgad police limits in Angul district. This has posed a serious threat to the lives of wild animals.
According to sources, most villagers of Parbatipur, Jambunali and Takaba villages under Handapa police limits and Kenchuanali, Batrakhola, Hemamura, Bipradiha and Maimura under Thakurgad police limits have possessed country made pistols procured illegally. With these fire arms, they poach wild boars, deer and other animals and smuggle their flesh, skins and other body parts outside.
On the condition of anonymity some villagers confided the correspondent to the fact that marijuana is being cultivated in large scale in these villages. The youths who are involved in this illegal farming directly or indirectly procure country made pistols from Deogarh, Malkangiri, Sambalpur, Phulbani and Nayagarh clandestinely.
These fire arms are being used not only to protect Marijuana plants but also to kill wild animals. They put up snares and when an animal is trapped in it, the kill it using these illegally procured firearms.
Besides, these firearms come to their best use at the time of smuggling both marijuana and body parts, they alleged adding it that one can procure these pistols spending anything between Rs 20, 000 and Rs 30, 000.
These youths most of the time fire blank in forested area in a bid to terrorise people. Even if we inform such incidents to the police, no action is being taken against them, they alleged.
When contacted, Handapa IIC Daniel Kerketa said, “Many a step is being taken jointly by the forest department and police department to root out the marijuana cultivation completely from the areas coming under this police limits. However, we do not have any information regarding illegal trade or possession of unlicensed firearms. Yet we have been carrying out raids at various places. Basing on the allegation, an investigation will be launched and stringent action will be taken against those who found guilty,” he added.
PNN
