Veerappan-type gangs stalking in State forests

Deccan Herald , Sunday, June 24, 2007
Correspondent : Staff Reporter
Forest officials may have heaved a sigh of relief at the death of dreaded sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, but it seems they’ll have to soon reckon with new Veerappan-like poaching gangs spreading their tentacles in the State’s vast forest reserves.

According to the State CID (Forest Cell), a number of new poaching gangs operating in various forest reserves are said to be in possession of firearms and sophisticated gadgets, posing a major to threat to forest wealth as well as the law-enforcing agencies.

Chikkerur, IGP (CID Forest Cell), told reporters on Saturday that a number of new gangs, including inter-State thugs, are emerging.

“A gang from Goa is said to be poaching sambars, bisons and elephants in Belgaum’s Dandelli area. Poachers are active in HD Kote taluk and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, where they use dynamites to catch mussels,” he said.

Similarly, the use of firearms by these gangs, especially the locally made muscle-loaders, .22 and .33 rifles, is on the rise in districts like Bangalore Rural, Mandya, Chikmagalur, Kodagu and Belgaum.

“In Karnataka, there are about 50,000 people causing destruction to the forest cover in some form or the other. Each district has its own species and problems,” Mr Chikkerur said.

To combat this menace, the cell, as part of its modernisation drive, will shortly procure thermal imaging cameras and sonic earphones, which will help it gain an edge over the bandits.

The thermal ICs, each costing Rs 2 lakh, will equip the force to capture images and help differentiate between animals and human beings from as far away as 2 km. Similarly, the earphones can help in capturing human and animal sound in a similar range.

The cell, in 2006, booked 408 cases under the Karnataka Forest Act 1963 and 26 cases under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and seized property worth Rs 4.7 lakh and Rs 23 lakh respectively.

Wildlife wing

A Wildlife Training Wing was inaugurated at Mr Chikkerur’s office and a one-day training programme organised for a batch of 20 policemen from five districts, to sensitise them on the importance of the Acts of 1963 and 1972.

The CID cell will organise similar programmes in all the districts and in the police training schools, which will provide training to the police in simulated scenarios

 
SOURCE : Sunday, 24 June 2007
 


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