Vigilant watchers foil intrusion attempt into Tadoba

Mazhar Ali, TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 04.29AM IST CHANDRAPURndrapur: Even as red alert is in place in all tiger bearing territories, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) appears to be high on the radar of poachers. Yet another instance of trespassing attempt by poachers into TATR has come to light. Poachers had tried to intrude from Katezari side of tiger reserve on Saturday night, but their bid was foiled by alert watchers stationed at machan and protection hut. There was a lot hue and cry over intrusion of a gang of suspected poachers from Wamangaon side of TATR on Sunday night. The gang was seen by labourers deployed on protection hut and came to fore on following day. However, poachers' attempt to trespass into TATR on Saturday night, previous to Wamangaon side intrusion, went unreported as TATR officers remained tight-lipped over it. Around 10-12 poachers on four bikes along the canal of Mendhli pond were seen by watchers stationed on machan at pond on Katezari side of TATR on Saturday night. The poachers were reportedly armed with sticks and spears. The watchers on machan immediately called Katezari protection hut and four forest labourers stationed there rushed to the pond for their help. Sensing trouble, poachers fled back towards village Sonegaon's direction. Patrolling in the area was intensified in the area since then. RFO (Protection), TATR Luche confirmed the incident. "We have recorded statements of the two watchers who had seen the poachers from their machan. We also recorded statements of police patils of Sonegaon and Ashta villages as the poachers had come from this direction. This incident has also been mentioned in complaint filed with Chimur police station," he said. It is, however, strange that despite the two serious incidents, no offence has been registered in this regard. TATR authorities have not bothered to register primary offence report (POR) on their own about the two incidents. Instead, they washed their hands off the issue by submitting a simple complaint to Chimur police. Cops have taken little cognisance of the matter and have not bothered to file first information report (FIR), but kept the TATR's complaint under investigation. Both RFO Luche and Chimur PSO Panjabrao Madavi said they have registered no offence in connection with the two trespassing incidents. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Vigilant-watchers-foil-intrusion-attempt-into-Tadoba/articleshow/13913354.cms