Balasore, Feb. 25: Forest officials of Mayurbhanj arrested 34 poachers and seized firearms, traditional bows and arrows and animal meat from them in Similipal Tiger Reserve yesterday evening.

The arrests come ahead of the Akhand Shikar or mass hunting ritual of tribal people in April.

The arrests followed a joint raid by the officials of the reserve’s Baripada and Karanjia divisions. The officials acted on a tip-off. Sources said the raid at Naubuda resulted in the seizure of 13 country-made guns, 80kg sambar and barking deer meat, and 40 sets of bows and arrows.

The arrested poachers belong to Katuria, Badajhar, Nedam, Sandei and Debal villages, which fall in Udla forest range.

They were produced in court after cases were registered against them for illegal entry into the prohibited area of the sanctuary and killing of animals.

This is a major success for the forest officials who have been combing the sanctuary for the last five days following reports that about 450 poachers had sneaked into the forest on the nights of Monday and Tuesday.

“We apprehended the poachers with the help of a tip-off. We are still patrolling the reserve to trace the groups that have intruded the sanctuary,” said Bijay Krushna Panda, divisional forest officer, Baripada.

Officials are still scouring the forests for the largest intruding group that has 450 members.

Forest personnel of all ranges have begun combing operations. Some forest personnel even had a confrontation with a group near Barhakamuda.

“They were about 200 armed persons and we were only 50 and unarmed. They threatened us with dire consequences. We escaped with difficulty,” said one officer.

Tribal hunters and poachers are expected to make a big foray into the sanctuary during Akhand Sikar, which will begin after Maha Vishuva Sankranti on April 14.