Baripada, July 19: A headmaster of an upper primary school and his associate were arrested on Thursday for allegedly poaching in the South Wildlife Division of Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district.
“The in-charge headmaster of Haldibani Upper Primary School under Shamakhunta tehsil limits, Baidhar Soren (54), and his associate Chamtu Hembram (40) were arrested for killing an Indian porcupine, a Schedule-1 protected animal”, said Deputy Director of STR South Wildlife Division, Samrat Gowda.
Security personnel from Pithabata North Range also seized a handmade gun, a bow, three arrows, 1.15 kg of Indian porcupine meat, and a number of quills from their possession.
The duo entered the Similipal Tiger Reserve on July 15 for poaching. They were apprehended by security personnel after killing the Indian porcupine on July 16 and brought to the Pithabata North Range office for further interrogation, said Gowda.
A case has been registered under Wildlife Protection Act against the duo, and the police were informed to register a case under the Arms Act for the illegal use of a handmade gun. Besides, the District Education Officer has been informed about Soren to take departmental action.
