A 26-year-old youth was electrocuted to death after allegedly coming into contact with a live electric wire laid illegally to trap wild boars in a forested area under Pottangi block of Odisha’s Koraput district on Thursday.
Contact with live hunting wire proves fatal
The deceased has been identified as Jagadish Khora of Deopottangi village. According to preliminary information, Khora had ventured into a nearby forest when he accidentally touched a live wire suspected to have been set up for illegal hunting.
Villagers said they rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident and found Khora lying motionless on the ground.
Locals alleged that the electric wire had been laid by miscreants to trap wild animals, a practice that continues in remote forest pockets despite strict prohibitions and repeated warnings by authorities.
Case registered, probe under way
On being informed, personnel from the Odisha Police reached the spot, seized the body and sent it to a local community health centre for post-mortem examination.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death and initiated an investigation to identify those responsible for laying the live wire. Efforts are also under way to trace individuals allegedly involved in illegal hunting activities in the area.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by unauthorised electrified traps, which not only threaten wildlife but also put human lives at grave risk.