Sources in the forest department said that on Saturday evening, a team of forest guards was patrolling near Netadhopani camp. Around 10 pm, they spotted a group of poachers trying to kill deer in the forest area. When they tried to accost the poachers, the group opened fire at the forest guards and Halder was injured.

Police said that some of the poachers also attacked Halder with a sharp weapon before fleeing.

The forest department said in a statement, “On May 18, around 10 pm, a small team of forest personnel who were patrolling on a small boat in Gosaba 1 compartment, came across a group of 10-15 poachers, who were apparently from Bangladesh. The team confronted them. However, the poachers attacked the forest staff…”

The statement added, “The staff jumped into water to save themselves. Three of them survived the attack but one forest guard, Amalendu Halder, died. Halder’s body was found in Morabani khal, Gosaba 1 compartment, near the site of the incident. He had suffered head injuries. An FIR has been registered. Massive mobilisation of forest department staff has been done to apprehend the culprits, who are thought to be in Indian waters. Senior officers are in the field.”