Mrudul Godbole
06-08-2010, 04:29 PM
Assam forest staff to get firearms
Tue, Aug 3 05:28 AM
Assam has probably become the first state in the country to arm its forest personnel with various kind of sophisticated weapons to tackle the growing menace of poaching, which primarily targets rhinos and tigers.
A notification issued by Assam a couple of weeks ago, provides immunity to all ranks of forest staff from prosecution without prior sanction for using firearms and killing poachers both inside and outside national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved forests.
"So long there was no legal or administration provision for our staff engaged in protection of wildlife and reserved forests to use firearms of any kind. Whatever weapons they have been using so long was just because of the goodwill of the administration. Otherwise, generally speaking they were all liable to be arrested and prosecuted for using firearms while discharging their duties," VK Bishnoi, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Assam said Monday.
PCCF Bishnoi said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi readily agreed to such a decision when the proposal was put before him.
Link - http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100803/804/tnl-assam-forest-staff-to-get-firearms_1.html
Tue, Aug 3 05:28 AM
Assam has probably become the first state in the country to arm its forest personnel with various kind of sophisticated weapons to tackle the growing menace of poaching, which primarily targets rhinos and tigers.
A notification issued by Assam a couple of weeks ago, provides immunity to all ranks of forest staff from prosecution without prior sanction for using firearms and killing poachers both inside and outside national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved forests.
"So long there was no legal or administration provision for our staff engaged in protection of wildlife and reserved forests to use firearms of any kind. Whatever weapons they have been using so long was just because of the goodwill of the administration. Otherwise, generally speaking they were all liable to be arrested and prosecuted for using firearms while discharging their duties," VK Bishnoi, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Assam said Monday.
PCCF Bishnoi said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi readily agreed to such a decision when the proposal was put before him.
Link - http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100803/804/tnl-assam-forest-staff-to-get-firearms_1.html