Forest Department destroys 125 illegal country-made guns in Tiruvannamalai

The Forest Department destroyed 125 illegal country-made guns using a road roller at the Office of the District Collector in Tiruvannamalai town on Tuesday, as part of Wildlife Week Celebrations.

Forest officials said that the drive was aimed to prevent illegal hunting and to protect wildlife under the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Forest officials approached tribals living on the fringes of forests to voluntarily surrender illegal country-made firearms in their possession. “General amnesty to volunteers who surrender country-made guns have helped recover these illegal firearms from the public. Support from the public is key to prevent such possession of firearms,” S. Gunasekaran, forest range officer (FRO), Jamunamarathur range (Jawadhu Hills), told The Hindu. 

Collector Vandana Garg launched the drive to destroy seized illegal firearms at the Collectorate in the presence of R. Udhayakumar, Superintendent of Police, K. Sudhagar, District Forest Officer, A. Sivasubramania Pillai, District Revenue Officer, and G. Vinothraj, Assistant Conservator of Forests.

Among the forest ranges, Nadanur forest range has the highest number of firearms (41) that were destroyed at the Collectorate, followed by Santhavasal (22), Melpattu (19), Polur (17) and Jamunamarathur (15). “Forest officials reach out to tribal elders in the hills to convince residents in hamlets to give up country-made guns,” said S. Vembu, a resident.

Forest officials said that traditionally, tribals possessed illegal country-made guns to guard themselves from wild animals, thefts, and hunting purposes.

These guns also helped farmers transport their produce from the hillock to foothills and safely return home with their earnings. “With better roads, policing, and transport facilities, such possession of illegal arms is no longer required,” said Mr. Vinothraj.

Forest officials said that the general amnesty that was offered by the Forest Department and the district police in 2016 and 2021 have helped many people, especially tribals in the hills, to voluntarily surrender illegal firearms. Awareness, including door-to-door meetings with residents, about the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms were to be continued.