Bhubaneswar: After a forest guard was shot dead by poachers in Dhenkanal district on Saturday, wildlife experts expressed surprise that despite being armed, forest personnel are being subdued and at times being killed by poachers, who carry only country-made guns.The Dhenkanal incident marks the third death of a forest personnel on duty in the past two years.After two forest personnel were killed in Similipal Tiger Reserve in 2023, state govt had provided arms to them, with the view that it would not only work as a deterrent but also allow them to fire non-lethal shots if needed to intimidate the poachers. “The reverse seems to be happening. Armed forest personnel are losing their lives while confronting ill-trained and ill-equipped poachers. The personnel need more training, rehearsal, practice and knowhow to deal with confrontational situations when armed. In the Hindol case, it is yet to be ascertained if the gun belonged to forest guard Prahlad Pradhan or the poachers. If Pradhan’s gun was in use, it is dangerous and calls for serious introspection in handling a loaded gun,” said Anup Nayak, former member secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).Nayak also pointed out that if it was pitch dark and there was intelligence about four poachers resting in a hut, there was no point in Pradhan going inside, leaving colleagues outside. “There was a grave mistake as far as foresight and planning to deal with poachers is concerned. We have already lost two personnel in Similipal,” Nayak added.Sumit Kar, divisional forest officer (Dhenkanal), said bordering areas along Athagarh forest division have been fortified with three watchtowers, four wildlife protection barracks and one outpost in the Hindol range.“A weapons training has been organised this year in coordination with police at the police reserve ground for all vulnerable section staff members,” Kar added.In 2023, govt armed the forest personnel in view of mounting threats to conservation, protection and existence. Govt brought some riders for the use of arms by forest personnel so they are protected (from law) in case of weapon use.The notification read, “The govt is aware that the use of firearms in the discharge of their mandated duty and responsibility may expose forest personnel to vexatious criminal proceedings and that there is a need to provide them immunity from prosecution without prior sanction.”