Jamshedpur, June 3: Close on the heels of two elephants being electrocuted in Patamda, a couple of bears were killed by poachers at Narwa Pahad jungle, about 20km from here, last evening.

Though the carcasses have not been found, villagers reportedly saw poachers in action. As further proof to killing of the bears, forest officials have found nails and hairs of bears in the jungle.

But a twist in the tale came when two “poachers” were traced to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital. The duo, having been admitted with severe injuries seemingly caused by animal attack, are unconscious. The wounds are so deep that the faces are beyond recognition. Villagers had brought the two to hospital, claiming they were attacked by the bears while on a hunt.

Divisional forest officer of Dhalbhum A.T. Mishra said the injured could be poachers but added that for confirmation, the two would have to regain consciousness.

“While searching for the carcasses of the bears we came across some villagers who told us that two of the poachers have been wounded by bears during the hunt last evening. The villagers also told us that the duo have been admitted to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital,” said Mishra.

The forests of Narwa Pahad have a substantial population of bears and poaching is common, he said.

“People residing in the adjacent villages tend to kill the bear for various purposes. Some kill adult bears to take the cubs away while tribals hunt bears for flesh,” he said.

Smuggling of bear cubs is not new here. The forest department has confiscated several bear cubs while being transported to other states.

A senior forest official said it is necessary to trace the poachers and prosecute them to set an example.

Mishra has requested the hospital staff to take special care of the injured. “I have requested the hospital superintendent to check if the injured need to be shifted to Tata Main Hospital for better treatment. I want them to recover at the earliest so that I can take a statement from them about the bear deaths,” he said.

Meanwhile, the deaths have sent several men in Narwa Pahad villages into hiding. The villagers fear that they could be arrested for the bear deaths.