Assam Govt. arms forest officials for anti-poaching drive

Guwahati, May 20 (ANI): As part of its anti-poachig drive, the Assam Government has decided to equip the forest officials with arms.

State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain distributed twenty-five 7.5 mm revolver and 303 Rifles to forest officials here on Thursday.

The step has been undertaken to strengthen the forest department.

"We have begun to give our forest range officers arms. We will be providing it first to the National Park, wildlife sanctuaries and later to the territorial officers and social forestry," said Hussain.

Hussain added that the infrastructure of forest guards and officials would be upgraded by giving them training in forest schools.

The government has also provided five motorbikes to forest guards and promised that more such upgradation will take place in the forest department.

The minister, however, has warned that no one, including the forest officials, will be spared if found involved in poaching or felling of trees.

Poaching and loss of habitat have caused the number of tigers and other endangered animals to plunge by an alarming degree in the country. (ANI)