Crackdown on Illegal Forest Encroachment at Chhattisgarh Tiger Reserve

Forest officials arrested 22 people, including five women, for alleged encroachment and destruction of forest land in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, Chhattisgarh. The accused were caught with weapons and materials for felling trees and setting up huts. Separate arrests were made for poaching activities. Anti-poaching measures have been intensified in the area.

In a significant move to protect Chhattisgarh's Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, forest authorities have arrested 22 individuals, including five women, for their role in an attempted encroachment and destruction of vital forest land. The arrests occurred after officials caught the accused carrying weapons and tools commonly used for deforestation, along with setting up makeshift shelters on the protected land.

Further analyses revealed that around 20 hectares of forest were affected by the activities, prompting legal actions under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The seized items included axes, knives, and felled timber, and the individuals have been remanded in judicial custody awaiting further proceedings.

Additionally, authorities intercepted a separate group involved in illegal poaching within the reserve's buffer zone, utilizing toxic forest leaves to catch fish. This illegal practice led to the arrest of three persons, who have since been remanded to judicial custody. Enhanced anti-poaching patrols and collaboration with local law enforcement aim to curb these violations and ensure the ongoing protection of the reserve's ecosystem.