Dhenkanal: A poacher on Tuesday night was killed in a forest here.

Madhusudan Dehury, 40, of Similia village in Gondia police limits had gone to nearby by Sorishpada forest, along with another poacher, Babuli Dehury, for hunting.

They were allegedly habitual poachers, and Madhu had earlier been to jail for poaching. The villagers said they had a country-made gun with them.

Local villagers on Wednesday spotted Madhu's bullet-ridden body in the forest. Babuli's whereabouts is not yet known. He is absconding with the weapon.

Madhu's wife Namita lodged an FIR at Gondia police station. She admitted that her husband and Babuli were both poachers. Namita has accused Babuli of killing Madhu.

"Madhu had four bullet wounds on his body including one on his chest that caused his instant death. Both Madhu and Babuli are poachers and had earlier been jailed," said Gondia police station inspector-in-charge Jitendra Sahu.

It is alleged that in the Gondia areas, there are many unlicensed guns and poachers operate freely.