Five poachers caught on camera in STR, arrested with guns

BARIPADA: Forest officials of Pithabata South Wildlife range under Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) arrested five suspected poachers and seized four guns from their possession on Wednesday.

The accused are Karunakar Mallick (28), Kartika Bhakta (30), Bhola Bhakta (29), Gunu Bhakta (30) and Rabi Bhakta (50), all residents of Besarpani village within Baripada Sadar police limits.

Deputy director of STR South Wildlife Division Samrat Gowda said recently, one of the AI-integrated cameras installed in STR captured photographs of some poachers sneaking into the forests with guns. Basing on the photos and inputs from Similipal Wildlife Intelligence Network (SWIN), forest officials identified the poachers.