Special Joint Task Force To Have Armed Police To Strengthen Security At Odisha’s Similipal

Baripada: In the wake of killing of two forest personnel in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, security has been tightened in the sanctuary. A Special Joint Task Force (JTF) has been formed to strengthen security inside the reserve forest.

The move comes after Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena directed the setting up of JTF comprising both forest and police personnel, with one company of armed police force under the chairmanship of the field director for the protection of STR.

The JTF will protect the 2,700 square kilometre reserve area that is home to unique melanistic tigers.

The Forest department initiated such arrangements after non-gazetted staff and protection assistants had launched a stir to protest the killing of two guards and to demand concrete steps for their security and other facilities.

The JTF comprises around 100 personnel of the Odisha Special Armed Police Force. The armed forces will conduct patrolling along with the forest staff to prevent poaching inside the STR, said an official.

The joint team will also include three range officers, six foresters and 81 forest guards. In the coming days, more forces would be deployed in the STR to prevent poaching.

To be headed by the Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF), the task force will have senior forest and police officials.

The need to strengthen security at the STR has increased in view of rampant poaching and dwindling tiger population in the reserve forest in recent years. The number of Royal Bengal Tigers (RBT) in Similipal has come down by 75 in last 12 years.