Elephant poaching in STR; two forest officials suspended

Baripada, Oct 9 (UNI) The Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) authorities have placed two forest officials under suspension and removed three Green Brigade volunteers, besides, as many ex-servicemen for alleged dereliction of duty.

The action against these people came in the wake of the recent recovery of the carcass of an adult bull elephant near a hill stream at Digdiga inside the STR.

STR Field Director-cum-Conservator of Forests Debabrata Swain said three Ex-servicemen - Ghanashyam Das of Havildar rank, German Giri and Sandeep Patra (both of constable rank) and three ''Sabuja Bahini''(Green Brigade) volunteers were removed from their jobs.

The two forest officials, three ex-servicemen and the three ''Sabuja Bahini'' volunteers were attached to the Namati Anti-poaching Camp under the Pithabata Range of the STR for their failure to timely locate the carcass of an adult bull elephant falling under their jurisdiction.

Mr.Swain accompanied by the Deputy Director of the STR Monoj Nair visited the areas for an on-the-spot enquiry yesterday and decided to take action against the forest officials, ex-servicemen and Sabuja Bahini volunteers.

Meanwhile, anti-poaching measures in the reserve has been beefed up and intensive combing operations have been launched against the poachers suspected to be involved in the killing of the adult bull elephant, the STR Field Director said.

UNI XC DP TJP DB1420