Bhanja Sena begins Hartal, demands Similipal protection
Bhanja Sena begins Hartal, demands Similipal protection
admin
Baripada: On Thursday, normal life was disrupted in several places in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district as activists from the Bhanja Sena, a local outfit, launched an agitation and staged a road blockade in protest of an increase in poaching of wild animals in Similipal National Park.
According to sources, protesters blocked roads and National Highways 49 and 18 in various locations, disrupting vehicular movement, in order to demand concrete measures for the protection of Similipal National Park.
In the morning, the agitators set up a road blockade on the Udala-Baripada main road in Kaptipada sub-division, stranding a large number of vehicles.
They accused forest department officials of failing to take effective steps to reduce poaching of wild animals in the sanctuary area, alleging that a large number of wild animals are being poached on a regular basis. Wildlife criminals are also allegedly involved in the smuggling of tusks and tiger skin.
Protesters demanded that the forest department take immediate action to stop poaching of wild animals and protect the ecology of the Similipal forests. They added that regular patrolling should be increased to deter poachers.
