Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has constituted a Joint Taskforce comprising around 100 armed police and 90 forest staff to protect the Similipal Tiger Reserve. The decision has been taken in the wake of the rise in the incidents of poaching and the recent incidents of killing of two forest personnel inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve. This comes after Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena directed for the setting up of the Joint Taskforce comprising both forest and police personnel, with one company of armed police force which will be under the chairmanship of the field director. The Taskforce will be engaged to protect the 2,700 square kilometres reserve area. It will also include three range officers, six foresters and 81 forest guards. The taskforce will be headed by the Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF) and include senior forest and police officials.