The State Government on Saturday suspended a range officer and arrested four forest guards in connection with the killing of innocent monkeys in Ambagarh forest area in Rajnandgaon district.
Sources said over a dozen of poachers and hunters allegedly killed the animals for meat. A departmental probe has found negligence on the part of the forest employees and held them responsible for not taking adequate measures to protect the animals.
Divisional forest officer Arun Prasad said those who have been suspended include deputy range officer Radhshyam Nayak and forest guards Soni, Mankar, Netam and Thakur. Sources said that the efforts to nab the real culprits in the crime have been slowed down. Initial probe had pointed out that the culprits had escaped to Maharashtra after committing the crime. It was also said that they belonged to Bande and Pakhanjur area of Bastar. However, authorities are not yet clear about their whereabouts.