A man and his wife died after coming in contact with a live wire which was laid by poachers to kill wild animals in Odisha’s Koraput district, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident took place in Geruput village when the couple, identified as Bolaram Galel and Bala Galel, who ran a tea stall in the area, ventured into the forest to collect firewood on Monday (January 20).
When the couple did not return even after hours, their families and local villagers began a search operation.
“After the couple did not return from the forest, locals initiated a search and later that night, they found the couple’s body entangled in electric wire apparently deployed by poachers to kill wild animals,” an official said.
According to locals, live wires were set up to poach wild boars often spotted in the forest. The families of the victims have filed a police complaint and accused two men of setting up live wires in the forest.
Following the complaint, police detained one person named in the FIR, while the second accused is on the run.
Bodies of the couple have been sent for post-mortem examination and further investigation into the matter is underway.