📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rajeev minj
Crime
Potash bombs used in Udanti Tiger Reserve poaching; two arrested with 13 live deer
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 03 Oct 2026, 10:03 PM
👁 13
Authorities in Chhattisgarh have uncovered the use of potash‑based explosive devices in poaching at Udanti Tiger Reserve, detaining two suspects who were found with thirteen live deer.
The forest department of Chhattisgarh reported that poachers have started employing potash bombs – a low‑cost explosive mixture – to incapacitate wildlife in Udanti Tiger Reserve. The devices are designed to stun animals, making them easier to capture or kill.
During a routine patrol on Monday, forest officials discovered two individuals near the reserve carrying the improvised bombs along with thirteen live deer that appeared to have been recently captured. The suspects were taken into custody and the deer were handed over to veterinary staff for treatment.
Senior officer Rajesh Kumar, who led the operation, said the emergence of potash bombs marks a worrying escalation in poaching tactics, as the chemicals are readily available and difficult to trace. He added that a detailed investigation is underway to identify any larger network behind the scheme.
The department has urged local communities to report any suspicious activity and has announced increased surveillance in the reserve to curb further illegal hunting.
This incident highlights the growing challenge of wildlife crime in central India, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and greater awareness about the ecological impact of poaching.
During a routine patrol on Monday, forest officials discovered two individuals near the reserve carrying the improvised bombs along with thirteen live deer that appeared to have been recently captured. The suspects were taken into custody and the deer were handed over to veterinary staff for treatment.
Senior officer Rajesh Kumar, who led the operation, said the emergence of potash bombs marks a worrying escalation in poaching tactics, as the chemicals are readily available and difficult to trace. He added that a detailed investigation is underway to identify any larger network behind the scheme.
The department has urged local communities to report any suspicious activity and has announced increased surveillance in the reserve to curb further illegal hunting.
This incident highlights the growing challenge of wildlife crime in central India, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and greater awareness about the ecological impact of poaching.