Bhopal:
Two ‘Forest observers‘ in Kanha National Park In the district of Mandla de Madhya Pradesh They have been arrested and reserved under UAPA for alleged ties with Maoists, which caused disturbances among forest staff. Many seek transfer for fear of being trapped between Maoist and the police.
The “observers” are those who patrol the forest on foot, venturing into the deepest and most dangerous parts of the forest that others do not dare. “Hamare Logon Ko Tiger becomes Nahi Lagta Saheb, police hay (we are more afraid of the police than the tigers),” said a forest officer, expressing Suitis for the arrest of two forest observers.
This has not only raised concerns about the infiltration of insurgent supporters within the state’s wildlife sanctuaries, but also left forest personnel at soil level.
Ashok Kumar Lal and Santosh Kumar Lal, both 28 years old and the Mandla district, were arrested during a Maoist meeting on Sunday night in which an insurgent died, police said.
“Both were good patrol guards, always vigilant. What are they supposed to do? The Maoists threaten to kill their families if they do not help them and, if they do, the police arrest them to put on the side of the antinational. Observers play a very important role in tiger conservation. They are indispensable since they patrol several hectares of dense forest on foot and unarmed, ”said the forest officer, requesting not to be appointed.
The Mandla District Police says that the duo was caught “pointing out” information to the Maoists about the movement of security forces. From the top of a hill, they whistled in a certain way or hit stones together according to a pre -established code to warn the Maoists, police say.
The forest officers argue that the duo was “pointing” to the Maoists, but to collect their food and ration. “They were not pointing to the Maoists about the movement of forces. It is an incorrect perception, ”said the officer.
“Forest observers are in a capture-22 situation, trapped between Maoist’s threat and police action. If they cooperate with the Maoists to avoid reprisals, they run the risk of arresting by the police. If they refuse, they face the violence of the insurgents or the suspicion of the police, “said another forestry officer.
“The registration of cases in serious sections such as UAPA against our people without analyzing the situation should not be done,” he added. Experts say that other forest observers and field staff are now reluctant to work.
Although Ashok and Santosh affirmed that it was their first interaction with the Maoists, the researchers say they have found handwritten notes and other evidence that suggest a much deeper connection with the insurgents. The two were not passive observers: they provided vital intelligence to the Maoists about the movements of the security force and facilitated the supply of essential materials, the officers say.
Parking in the heart of Kanha, forest observers occupied a strategic position to help the Maoists allege the police, noting that they not only compromised national security and endangered conservation efforts, but also dragged their colleagues under a cloud of suspicion as the police now wonder how deeply Maoist sympathizers can have infiltrated areas infiltrated.
Kanha, one of the most emblematic tigers of India, is a symbol of conservation success. A wet movement has been informed in around 40% of the central area of Kanha, in areas that border Balaghat. “Now we are fighting the expansion of Maoists within these protected areas. There is a joint camp of forests and police near Mukki in Kanha. Khatia doesn’t have such a camp, ”said a police officer.
