‘Secret’ training for SOG to combat forest crime

More Uttarakhand News, about Uttarakahnd and more http://uttarakhandnews2k.blogspot.com/

Members of the State Forest Department Special Operation Group (SOG) will receive training from a Union Government agency on aspects of tackling wildlife crime. The State Forest and Environment Advisory Committee vice- chairman, Anil Baluni, informed The Pioneer that in order to maximise the efficacy of the SOG, specifics about its activities and identity of its members is being kept secret even from the Forest Department. He further claimed that even the location where the department SOG will receive training and the Central agency which will accord the same are not being revealed.

The Forest Department SOG was formed less than a month ago in Uttarakhand specifically for tackling the wildlife poaching and smuggling of wildlife and forest goods in the State. The group was also formed when the department realised its weakness in technical tasks like intelligence gathering and surveillance along with its dependence on the police for these tasks. Since its formation the departmental SOG has nabbed three persons trying to sell one leopard pelt in Rishikesh in the recent past. According to Baluni, the periodic training that members of this group will undergo will begin with one short term training within the next week.

A Union Government agency will impart this training to the members somewhere in Uttarakhand. In addition to this the department is also planning to further strengthen the special task forces in Corbett and Rajaji National Parks. "In order to maximise the efficiency of the departmental SOG, we are not publicising the identities of the members so that they are able to work better in gathering intelligence related to wildlife crimes", he claimed. The first training course which the group members will undergo will train them on aspects of identifying, investigating and acting on different wildlife crimes.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/s

Sarkari Naukari: http://sarkarinaukri-governmentjobsinindia.blogspot.com/

Education News: http://enteranceexamresults.blogspot.com/