Tragic Hunting Accident Claims Life in Dhenkanal: What Happened?

Hunting Trip Turns Fatal in Dhenkanal

A tragic incident unfolded near Manpur village in the Dhenkanal district when a man was accidentally shot during a hunting expedition. The event took place late Thursday night when a group of five friends ventured into the forest for hunting. One member of the group mistakenly shot Babuli Nayak, also known as Kalia, aged 40, believing he was an animal. The unfortunate incident resulted in Babuli's immediate death.

The group included Santosh Nayak, Babuli Nayak, Prashant Nayak from Kadalipal village, along with Naresh Swain and Dandua Dehuri from Kotama village. According to police reports, Prashant Nayak was the one who fired the fatal shot. Following the incident, Babuli's wife, Jhili Nayak, was informed, and local villagers alerted the Rasol police station. Upon their arrival, authorities seized the body and detained the other four individuals involved in the hunting trip. Furthermore, Paramananda Chhatar from Kotama village, who allegedly provided the firearm, was also taken into custody.

Prashant Nayak faces charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder, while the others are charged under the Wildlife Protection Act. All five individuals have been presented in court. Despite a rise in illegal hunting and gun trafficking incidents in the region, there seems to be a lack of proactive measures from the Forest Department, resulting in recurrent tragic events. Hindol SDPO Satya Kumar Nanda commented, “Initial investigations indicate that the gun was discharged with the intent to hunt animals.”