More guards for forests

The Mahananda wildlife sanctuary, one of the areas where the new guards could be deployed

TT, 3 March 2014, Siliguri: The state forest department will get recruit more forest guards to intensify vigilance and for better protection of wildlife in the forests of Bengal.

Also, the department has submitted a requisition to the state home department, seeking sophisticated firearms like those used by the state police.

"We will recruit 259 forest guards soon. They will be posted in wildlife habitats located across the state. The decision has been made to guard the forests in a better manner and also to intensify vigil in areas where wild animals live," said state forest minister Binoy Krishna Burman.

Sources in the department said the recruitment was planned couple of years back.

"The process got delayed. But now that incidents of poaching and animal parts smuggling are on the rise, it seems that the department is finally making the move," said a forest official.

The recruitment would be done through the state police recruitment board. Also, after the recruitment, these guards will be trained by the police.

Wild animals, particularly in north Bengal forests, have become vulnerable nowadays. Poachers based in the Dooars and even from north-eastern states have been arrested with sophisticated firearms, poisons and animal body parts that like skin of clouded leopard, elephant tusks and rhino horns, said an official.

Also, a requisition has been sent by the state forest department to the home department.

"We want our guards and officers working in the field to be equipped with sophisticated weapons so that they counter the poaching gangs. It has been found that these gangs use weapons like AK series rifles," said the minister.

In the requisition, arms like Insas rifles and SLRs have been asked for, sources said.

"Along with better firepower, it is also necessary to increase the intelligence network by involving villagers of adjacent areas of the forests. Necessary instructions have been passed to officials to ensure that they get information from locals on a regular basis," Burman said.