No target practice for CRPF in PTR

DALTONGANJ: Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) officials have turned down the plea of the CRPF to have shooting practice in the buffer area of the reserve, sources said.
The sources added that the CRPF had asked PTR authorities to allow shooting practice at Ramseli village under Bareysarn, located at the base of a hill, due to the sparse population of the area.Further, shots fired would not go beyond the hill but would fall at the foothill.
PTR divisional forest officer Anil Kumar Mishra confirmed the CRPF wanted the place for shooting practice at Ramseli village, which the officials refused. Mishra said the sound of guns in the reserve area that too would scare the wildlife.
In 2012, a wild elephant had died following encounter between security forces and extremists. The Wildlife Protection Act clearly says that no one except reserve officials assigned the task of safety and security can enter the tiger reserve, sanctuary or the park with weapons or ammunition. Shooting practice is beyond any imagination in tiger reserve area, said MIshra.
Asked about anti-naxal operations launched inside the tiger reserve, in areas like like Katiya forest, Kumandi, where fierce gun battles have taken place between security forces and the rebels in 2012 and 2013, the DFO refused to make any comment and asked this reporter to find the answer from the security officials.