Keonjhar: Forest personnel arrested three persons for allegedly killing and cooking a barking deer in Siddhamath forest of Barbil range, on Friday. The accused, Mangal Munda, Sindu Munda, and Ranjan Munda from Kolharudkela village in Joda block, were caught preparing a curry from the animal’s meat.
During interrogation, Mangal Munda confessed to laying a trap in Siddhamath reserve forest along with his associates. Forest officials recovered blood-soaked soil, chopped meat, an axe, and two knives from the killing site.
“The suspects have admitted to repeatedly entering the forest and hunting wild animals in the past,” said Sarat Kumar Pattanayak, forester, Guali section. “They have been charged under the Wildlife Protection Act and remanded to judicial custody after their bail was rejected,” he added.