Bhubaneswar, Dec 22 At least 253 people, mostly tribals, have been arrested on charges of poaching in Orissa's Similipal National Park, police said Thursday.
Armed with bows and arrows, they entered the prohibited areas of the 2,750 sq km reserve in groups and were allegedly found hunting Wednesday evening, district police chief SK Palsania said.
'This is the first time that such a large number of poachers were arrested from the park, he said.
The green brigade formed recently to prevent poaching spotted them and informed wildlife and police officials.
Located at a distance of about 270 km from here, the tiger reserve in the northern district of Mayurbhanj is home to a variety of animals including sambhar deer, langurs, barking and spotted deer, elephants and four-horned antelopes.
Officials seized 17 country-made guns and a large number of bows and arrows from the poachers.
