Udalguri-Sonitpur, Nov 10: Forest personnel arrested five suspected poachers and seized a country-made gun and several sharp weapons during a special operation in the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur district on November 10.
A team led by the Kalamatia Range Officer conducted the operation in the remote Gelgeli area of the sanctuary and apprehended the five men over their alleged involvement in wildlife poaching for a prolonged period.
The arrested individuals were identified as Hapon Soren, Tala Soren, Monti Murmu, Chamato Soren and Mangal Hasda. Forest Department sources said the country-made gun was recovered from Hapon Soren’s possession.
The operation came amid concerns over alleged increasing poaching activities in the sanctuary. A few days earlier, State Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah had visited the sanctuary and warned of stringent action against encroachers and poachers.
The latest arrests have drawn attention to ongoing concerns over wildlife protection and conservation in the sanctuary.
The Forest Department said all five arrested persons had been remanded to judicial custody.
