Raipur: Forest officials have taken major action by arresting three key accused in a wild pig poaching case near the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. The arrested individuals include an alleged potash-bomb supplier from Kondagaon district. The arrests have exposed a suspected interstate poaching network operating across the two states.
According to a press note issued by the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve management, the incident took place at Chikhalpani, in reserved forest compartments 254-255 under the Risgaon range of the Sitanadi sanctuary area. A male wild pig (Sus scrofa) was killed in the incident. The animal is protected under Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The forest offence was registered as Case No. 70/22 on September 29, 2026.
Investigators found that the animal had been killed using a potash bomb, an improvised explosive bait that detonates when an animal bites or consumes it.
During the investigation, forest officials executed a search warrant at the residence of Bharat Rathaur, son of Ramji Rathaur, in Korhabeda village under Vishrampuri tehsil of Kondagaon district. He has been identified as the alleged main accused and supplier of explosive devices. Several suspected explosive materials were reportedly recovered during the search.
Acting on further leads, forest personnel conducted raids on October 29 and arrested three absconding accused. They were brought to the Risgaon range headquarters at Sankra in Dhamtari district for questioning.
The arrested accused are:
- Bharat Rathaur: Resident of Korhabeda village, Kondagaon district, Chhattisgarh. He is accused of manufacturing potash bombs, supplying explosive materials and participating in poaching.
- Devanand alias Laila (49): Son of Mangturam (Kanwar), resident of Khilauli village, Kundai police station, Raighar tehsil, Nabarangpur district, Odisha.
- Shesham (38): Son of Badgu (Gond), resident of Khilauli village, Nabarangpur district, Odisha.
All three accused have been booked under various provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, including Sections 2(1), 9, 20, 27, 29, 31, 32, 39(1)(a)(b), 49(b), 50, 50(c), 51 and 52.
They were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class at Nagri on October 30 and subsequently remanded to judicial custody at Dhamtari District Jail.
Two other co-accused from Nabarangpur, Narsingh (50) and Mansingh (22), had been arrested earlier. Both remain lodged in Dhamtari jail after a local court rejected their bail applications.
Interstate Poaching Network Under Scanner
Forest officials said the case points to a broader interstate wildlife poaching network, rather than an isolated hunting incident. The involvement of hunters from Odisha and an alleged potash-bomb manufacturer from Chhattisgarh indicates a suspected cross-border supply chain for explosive materials.
Officials have also expressed serious concern over the use of crude explosive baits, which pose a threat not only to targeted animals but also to other wildlife in the reserve. Such explosives could endanger even protected species like tigers.
The forest department is pursuing legal action against both the alleged potash-bomb supplier and the poachers under stringent provisions of the law, with the aim of dismantling the entire network.
