10 held over killing of Forester at Odisha’s Similipal

Bhubaneswar: The police today claimed to have arrested 10 persons in connection with the killing of forester Mathi Hansdah in Similipal sanctuary under Mayurbhanj district of Odisha on the intervening night of June 16 and 17.

The arrested have been identified as Turi Kandeyan (30), Ramai Kandeyan (61), Mora Ho (43), Manikram Kandeyan (43), Gopabandhu Kandeyan (32), Dillip Kandeyan (25), Ramsingh Gundua (34), Singa Ho (32), Gameya Ho (25) and Champai Ho (26), said the police.

All the arrested persons are the residents of Edelbeda village under Thakurmunda police station in Mayurbhanj district, said a senior official of Odisha police today.

The police have seized two country-made rifles, one bamboo stick, two bows, three arrows, two axes, one woolen cap, one pink coloured napkin and an iron rod for loading gunpowder from the arrested persons.

The arrested persons have been booked under Sections 302, 353, 332, 333, 307, 120 (B), 34 of the IPC; Section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act and Section 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, said the police.

“Our investigation is on to find the involvement of any other person in the killing of the forester,” said the official.

A special team has been constituted to seize illegal weapons from the villagers of Edelbeda, Kasibeda, Saleibeda and other villages near Similipal, he added.

Notably, Hansdah was shot dead by a group of poachers while he and other Forest department employees were carrying out patrolling under undumundi-Barahakumuda section in Similipal sanctuary on the intervening night of June 16 and 17.