Balangir, Oct 13: Balangir forest Range officials held at least 5 poachers for allegedly killing an elephant and detusking it for trading its ivories.
The ivories which were about to be trafficked out of state, were recovered from the accused.
The Balangir Range officials said that, a gang of wildlife poachers had set a trap to poach boars in the Asura Dunguri forest a few days ago. Meanwhile, a tusker was accidentally trapped in it and succumbed to grievous injuries.Following this, the poachers allegedly detusked the pachyderm for illegal trade.
Following a tip off from the informers, the forest officials initiated an investigation in this connection, reached the poachers’ gang and recovered the ivories from their possession who were almost readying to strike a deal.
