Poachers kill forest guard on elephant duty in Odisha's Dhenkanal district
A forest guard was shot dead by poachers in Hindol forest range in Odisha's Dhenkanal district, raising questions about the protection of wildlife and the safety of the forest officials in the state.
The deceased, Prahlad Pradhan, 37, was part of a patrolling team at Rajmonoharpur forest. The incident occurred at 3 am on Saturday when regular patrolling was being carried out in the forest because of the movement of elephants in the jungle.
The range is close to the Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
According to officials, Pradhan sustained a bullet wound in his abdomen and was rushed to the district headquarters hospital at Angul, where doctors declared him dead. Pradhan had been working with the forest department since 2009.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi directed the principal chief conservator of forests to conduct an investigation and take stern action against Pradhan's killers. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 30 lakh for his family.
'The patrolling team comprising Pradhan and another guard from the nearby beat and squad team had a skirmish with poachers during which a gunshot was fired. We have arrested four poachers and recovered a firearm,' said Sumit Kar, district forest officer, Dhenkanal.
In 2023, two forest guards were shot dead by poachers within a month in Odisha's Similipal Tiger Reserve. Following this, the state government had taken several measures, including massive raids, seizure of arms, and deployment of armed police personnel inside the forests
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