Baripada: In a major crackdown following the death of two forest personnel at the hands of wildlife criminals in Odisha's Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district, police have arrested as many as 21 poachers in the last two months.

Sharing the information at a press meet during Baripada tour of DGP Sunil Bansal, Mayurbhanj SP B Gangadhar said the crackdown commenced after forester Mathi Hansa was gunned down by poachers while patrolling in June. Hansa's death, which came barely a month after another forest guard was killed in a similar manner, sparked perceptible public anger and raised serious questions about security arrangements for forest personnel on duty in the area.

In the crackdown that was launched soon after, 21 poachers were nabbed under 14 police stations in the district. Apart from that, 165 guns, 500 gm gunpowder, raw materials, pangolin scale and deer antlers were also recovered from the possession of the accused, the SP stated while addressing security questions in the national park.

On June 16, Hansda, 40, was shot dead by poachers while he was patrolling along with five other staff near Gamchacharan under the Upper Barhakamuda range of Similipal South. He succumbed to bullet injuries in the chest.

On May 22, a forest guard Bimal Kumar Jena was gunned down by poachers.