Poachers gun down Similipal forester, 2nd killing in a month

BHUBANESWAR: Weeks after a forest guard was killed by poachers inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve, only home to the melanistic tigers in the wild, a field officer was shot dead late on Friday night at Upper Barakamada, a core area of the reserve.
Mathy Hansdah, 40, And four others were patrolling near the Gamchacharan beat camp, when they confronted the poachers. When the forest personnel tried to stop the poachers from entering the core area, they fired at Mathy from their country-made gun, killing him on the spot.
The killing evoked widespread reactions with calls for more stringent security.
Union forest minister Bhupender Yadav said the MoEFCC took cognizance and sent a team from wildlife crime control bureau to support the state machinery. "I am deeply saddened at the loss of our fallen warrior in the line of duty. We salute his sacrifices," Yadav tweeted.
Earlier, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted, saying "another forest official being shot dead by poachers is a matter of grave concern."
Later, authorities detained three persons in connection with the murder of the forester. "We have also seized two guns from the suspected poachers. While interrogation of those detained are on, we are also looking for others involved in the crime," said IGP (eastern range) Himanshu Lal.
Similipal authorities said one person from Burusahi has been identified as the prime suspect. Others involved in the crime are suspected to be from Landusahi, Kasibeda and Edalbeda areas.
Three bullets from the desi weapon pierced the chest of the forester, which proved fatal. A special squad is on the job of conducting surprise raids at villages, where poachers are known for entering the Similipal forests with guns, officials said. “All guns used in poaching will be seized,” said superintendent of police (Mayurbhanj) B Gangadhar.
Similipal field director Prakash Gogineni said there were six poachers and they had three guns. All of them managed to flee. “We lodged a police complaint, and an FIR was registered. After the May 22 incident, when a forest guard was killed, we are not allowing field patrolling without guns with them,” he said.