Bhopal:
Two 'Forest Watches'at Kanha National Park in mandla district of Madhya Pradesh Have been arrested and booked under upa for alleged ties with maoists, triggering unrest among forest staff. Many are seeking transfer for fear of getting caveen Maoists And police.
'Watchers' are the ones who patrol the foot on foot, venturning into the debit, most dangerous parts of the forest that others have not. “Hamare logon ko tiger se dar nahi lagta saheb, police se lagta hai (we are more scared of police than tigers),” said a forest officer, expert officer, expertsing anguish overst of two forest watchers.
This has not only raised concerns about the infiltration of insurgent sympathizers within state's wildlife sancitaries, but left ground-level forest stafe Shaken.
Ashok Kumar Lal and Santosh Kumar Lal, Both 28 and from Mandla District, Were Arrested during a Maoist Encounter on Sunday Evening in which an insurgent was killed, Said Police.
“Both of them was good patrol guards, always vigilant. What are they supposed to do? Maoists threaten to kill their familyies if they do't halp them and if they do, police arrest them for siding with anti-nationals. Watches play a very important role in tiger conservation. They are indispensable as they patrol several hectares of dense foot and unarmed, “said the forest officer, requesting not to be named.
Mandla District Police Say the Duo was Caught 'Signalling' Information to Maoists on Movement of Security Forces. From atop a hillock, they would be whistle in a certain way or streeke stones together as per a prearranged code to warn maoists, say police.
Forest officers maintain the duo was indeed 'signalling' to maoists – but to collect their food and ration. “They were not signalling maoists about movements of forces. It's a wrong perception, “said the officer.
“Forest Watches are in a Catch-22 Situation, Trapped Between the Threat of Maoists and Police Action. If they cooperate with maoists to avoid retaliation, they expect Arrest by Police. If they refuse, they face violerance from insurgents or Suspicion from Law Enforcement, “said Another Forest Officer.
“Registration of cases under Serious Sections Like Upa Against Our People with Analysing The Situation is Uncalled for,” He Added. Insiders say that Other Forest Watches and Field Staff are now reluctant to work.
Thought Ashok and Santosh Claimed it was his first interaction with maoists, investigators say they have foundwritten notes and other evidence suggesting a much deeper connection with. The two was not passive observers – they provided Vitalgence to Maoists about Security Force Movements and Facilized Supply of Essential Materials, Say Officers.
Stationed in the heart of kanha, the forest watchers help a strategic position to aid maoists, allege police, pointing out that they are not only Compromised National Security and Endanghed Conservation, but also Dragged their colleagues under a cloud of Suspicion as Police Now Wonder How Deeply Maoist Sympathizers May have informed sensitive areas.
Kanha, one of India's most iconic tiger reserves, is a symbol of conservation success. Moist movement has been reported in Around 40% of the core are ea of kanha, in area bordering balghat. “We are now battling the expanding presence of maoists within these protected zones. There are a joint camps of forest and police near Mukki in Kanha. Khatia has no such camp, “said a police officer.
(Tagstotranslate) India
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