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Guwahati, March 20 : To curb poaching incidents, protect wild animals and fight against poachers, Assam forest guards will be equipped by Indian made AK-Ghatak like modern sophisticated weapons soon.
Assam Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma said that, the state government has started process to for purchase the AK-Ghatak like Indian made weapons for the forest guards.
"The forest guards will also being equipped by SLR, LMG, 303 rifles and other modern equipments," Brahma said.
"While poachers used modern sophisticated weapons, the state forest guards are still using old fashioned weapons. The forest guards faced lots of problems in many occasions during anti-poaching operation," Brahma said.
Pramila Rani Brahma, who is also known as the Assam Forest Queen for her activities to protect wild animals including world framed one horned rhinoceros and counter operation against poachers during her only 9-month tenure said that, also being processed for recruiting 112 armed personnel of the Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF).
"After approval by the Union Home Ministry, Assam police has started recruitment process and we hope 112 posts will fill up soon," the state forest minister said.
"Apart from to create the new Special Rhino Protection Force, the state forest department will be filled up over 500 posts of Forest battalion," Brahma said.
The Assam Forest minister said that, the forest department and Kaziranga National Park (KNP) authority had formed six numbers anti-poaching squad at Burhapahar area near the national park with support from the local villagers.
"It is a good news that, the nearby villagers of KNP come out to fight against poachers and formed anti-poaching squad," Brahma said.
The six anti-poaching squad were formed on March 17 and most of local villagers nearby the world heritage site were involved with it to protect wild animals.
Pramila Rani Brahma further said that, in recent period the state forest department has taken stern action and adequate proceedings against the poachers.
Assam has lost more than 200 one horned rhinoceros in past a decade, which were poached in different areas of the state.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
