By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With the GNLA increasing its presence in the jungles of Garo Hills, fear psychosis prevails among the forest personnel in two main forest reserves of the region.
“Forest staff are under constant psychological pressure due to the increasing insurgent activities in the jungles,” a Forest department official said while pointing out to incidents of kidnapping of forest officials.
In 2004, suspected ANVC cadres abducted Forest Officer, D Satyan, from his house at Baghmara in the South Garo Hills district. The ANVC, which signed a ceasefire agreement in the same year, released the official later.
Certain stretches of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve (47 sq km) and Balpakram National Park (352 sq km) have become safe haven for insurgents, the forest official said.
“These areas are preferred by the insurgents due to the thick vegetation which helps them give slip to the security forces during raids,” the official added.
Their proximity to Bangladesh is another prime reason for the militants to choosing the forests as their hide-outs, according to the official.
“The militants can easily cross over to Bangladesh as well as enter India through these forests with least chances of being caught,” sources said.
On the security of the forest staff from the insurgent groups, the official said, “Providing security is the job of the police and we can only be cautious from the anti-social elements.”