Three suspected deer poachers were arrested today -Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Nov 3, 2025 (BSS) - Three suspected deer poachers were arrested today after they allegedly attacked a forest officer of the Sundarbans East Division during a patrol at Dimer Char in the Dublar Alor Kol area under the Sharankhola Range of the mangrove forest.

The injured officer, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Rana Dev, said the incident occurred around 1:30pm when he and a team of forest guards were patrolling the area on foot. During the patrol, they discovered several traps set for hunting deer.

As the team conducted a search, they spotted a group of four to five suspected poachers and chased them. "I managed to catch one of them, but the others attacked me and forcibly rescued their accomplice before fleeing into the forest," ACF Rana Dev said.

Following the attack, the forest guards recovered 18 leg traps used for deer hunting from the scene. ACF Rana Dev received primary medical treatment at the temporary health centre at Dublar Char. 

Dr. Suhas Ranjan Halder, the medical officer at the centre, said the injured officer had been advised to undergo an X-ray to check for internal injuries.

Later, a special operation was conducted in the area, leading to the arrest of three suspected poachers -- Rafi Hasan (26) of Sugandhi village in Bagerhat Sadar, Shahid Mallik (28) of Sonatulia village in Rampal and Alamin Akunji (27) of Jhalbari village in Rampal.

Forest officials said legal action would be taken against the detainees under the Forest Act.