CRPF training for personnel to face animal attacks

CRPF jawans during a parade. File

The administration of the Dog Breeding and Training School (DBTS), Tharalu, which was rattled after the death of two personnel in a wild elephant attack, said that they will soon work with the Forest Department to develop a standard operating procedure to handle such attacks by wild animals.

“We will also organise quick training programmes for the personnel by the forest officials to handle such situations,” said J. Rajendran, DIG, Group Centre, CRPF.

This is the first such instance at the school since its inception in 2013.

For now, a red alert has been sounded at all the sentry posts around the school directing the guards to be alert as the elephant is suspected to be still around the same area.

Mr. Rajendran appealed to the forest officials to be vigilant and alert the school in advance of any movement of wild animals near the camp.

“We will coordinate with the forest officials in this regard,” he said.

Though the official claimed that there was no direction to the sentries not to open fire, many staffers on the condition of anonymity told The Hindu that they were directed to use fire crackers and not to use arms against animals.

“In this case, we were helpless and there was no time to open fire as the elephant charged at us in lightning speed. Since we were unprepared, the attack happened in few seconds and the elephant destroyed the camp,” a sentry rued.