The police and the forest department are at loggerheads over conducting joint raids to curb illegal sale of protected birds and activities of poachers in the city.
The forest department has claimed that the cops are refusing to help them during raids, but the police department argued they are overburdened and raids may lead to law and order issues, particularly during tense situation in old city.
Khader Vali, the deputy forest range officer of anti- poaching squad, said “Wildlife wing of the state forest department wrote to the city police top brass seeking help during the raids.
As the forest officials are unarmed, we asked them to send armed men. Particularly in areas like Murgichowk, where the illegal sale of protected birds and animals by the goons is rampant.”
The official said though the government has promised “to arm the foresters with weapons, it didn’t”.
Another wildlife official said, “We have to deal with poachers and wildlife criminals, which is not possible with empty hands. We are attacked several times.”
Reacting to forest officials allegations, a Joint CP rank official in the city police said, “With communal tensions, VIP security, festivals and conferences it is difficult for us to divert the force.”
He suggested that the forest department should raise its “own capabilities.”