Ex-sarpanch among 3 arrested for forest guard's murder in Odisha's Similipal Tiger Reserve

BHUBANESWAR: A joint team of police and forest department on Friday arrested three persons, including an ex-sarpanch, for allegedly killing a forest guard in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).
The accused - identified as Jugulu Singh of Jargadihi, Suklal Marndi of Kuali and Bidhadeb Singh, ex-sarpanch of Gendapokhri - were part of a 16-member gang that had entered STR. One of them allegedly killed forest guard Bimal Jena using a country-made gun, police investigation has revealed. They are, however, yet to find out the shooter whose lone bullet hit Jena.
The arrest of the three persons also led to the seizure of 10 country-made guns used by the poachers. "Other traditional weapons have also been seized. Our operation to curb poaching in and around Similipal is on," said Himanshu Lal, inspector general of police, eastern range.
Efforts on to nab others involved: Nath
The police plan to elicit information about poaching, the network and others involved in the murder of the forest guard. "Our manhunt will continue till the other 13 are apprehended. Mostly, villagers from the fringe areas of Similipal seem to be involved in poaching in the reserve and in the murder. Senior police officers are on the job to nab those on the run," Sagarika Nath, superintendent of police (Balasore), who is in-charge SP of Mayurbhanj, said.
She said some persons, whose involvement in the forest guard's murder has been confirmed by the arrested accused, will be nabbed soon.
Around 16 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. As the forest guards tried to catch one of them, a bullet fired by one of the poachers from a country-made gun killed Jena.