250 double barrel guns for forest staff

Visakhapatnam: Terming the killing of two forest officials by red-sanders smugglers in Seshachalam forests as a brutal incident, minister for environment and forests Satrucherla Vijayarama Raju, on Sunday, said the state government has decided to provide 250 12-bore double barrel guns (fire weapons) to officials in seven forest divisions_ Chittoor East, Chittoor West, Tirupati, Nellore, Nandyal, Rajampet and Proddatur in the state to deal the red-sanders smuggling.

Speaking to newspersons after releasing the new animals at Vizag zoo, the minister said they ordered for the 250 guns and forest officials at the Seshachalam forests will be equipped with firm arms soon. He said that now 20 armed police personnel are working under the control of divisional forest officer in all the seven red-sanders smuggling division in the state.

Besides weapons, 35-days training will imparted to the forest officials and staff of the 7 forest divisions. Police will hold camps on handling double barrel fire arms and the forest officials will also get fast bound vehicles to quick move from one place to another.