Assam forest staff to get firearms

[Mrudul Godbole]

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...irearms_1.html

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Great decision. A very welcome move.

They are the frontline soldiers in saving India's precious and fast vanishing wildlife and wilderness areas. All of us know that to protect one needs to be well equipped. It is certainly a good move by the Assam Government. I hope other State Governments can take note of this and implement this in their respective states.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi