Massive hunt on for poachers who killed Similipal guard

BHUBANESWAR: Armed policemen and forest officials fanned out in deep forests of Odisha on Tuesday in search of poachers who killed a forest guard inside Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district.
Around 20 poachers had entered the bordering area of Pithabata (south) range and Nawna (north) range of the reserve and surrounded a team of five forest personnel, who were on routine patrol on Monday evening.
When the forest guards tried to chase and catch hold of at least one in order to extract information about others, a bullet fired by one of the poachers from a country-made gun hit forest guard Bimal Kumar Jena from behind and he slumped to the ground.

"As he was fired upon from close range, the bullet exited through the chest killing Jena on the spot," said a police officer. He succumbed to the injuries. While other colleagues rushed to his rescue, the poachers vanished in the deep forest. Himanshu Lal, IGP (eastern range) said three teams have been formed to nab the culprits.
IGP Himanshu Lal said, “All entry and exit of Similipal are under intense vigil. Combing operation is going on to catch them soon.” Forest officials said Bimal had joined the forest department in 2012 and was attached to Nawna (north) range.
He leaves behind his wife, who is also a forest guard currently working in Pithabata (north) range and a six-year-old daughter. “We have got some definite clues about persons involved in the crime. Our teams with are following the leads,” said Sagarika Nath, superintendent of police (Balasore), in-charge of Mayurbhanj.
Prakash Gogineni, field director, Simlipal said an exgratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Rs 5 lakh from the department and some financial assistance from the state government will be given to the Jena’s family