Supply of sophisticated firearms to forest personnel for their combing operations and self-defence in the rough terrain of the red sanders-rich Seshachalam ranges in Chittoor and Kadapa districts continues to be a dream, while they are forced to chase woodcutters from Tamil Nadu carrying bore pump action guns, which are meant to deliver pellets but produce heavy noise.
Friday’s encounter with a 55-year-old woodcutter from the Jawadi Hills of Tamil Nadu at the plain jungles near Srikalahasti in the Chittoor district was the first episode involving forest personnel without police escort.
10-hour chase
The casualty reportedly took place after a 10-hour chase by a six-member forest staff, including five outsourcing personnel, of more than the 20 woodcutters in the night across the rough terrain from the Rajampeta division of Kadapa district to Gollapalle village of Srikalahasti mandal.
Divisional Forest Officer (Rajampeta) Kadarvalli told The Hindu that with over 40% staff crunch, combing operations were a big challenge. “Woodcutters are invading the forests of Rajampeta division in hordes,” he said. A senior police officer of the A.P. Red Sanders Task Force said venturing into the forest with a pump action gun was nothing but a risky game.
