State mulls firearms training for frontline forest staff

Uttarakhand is considering training forest staff in the use of modern weapons to protect its forest resources from poachers and timber smugglers. Currently, frontline staff are only allowed to use firearms for self-defense. If approved, Uttarakhand would become the third state in India to permit frontline forest staff to use firearms legally. The move is seen as a potential deterrent to illegal activities such as sand and timber smuggling, as well as poaching, especially in remote areas with high forest cover. A union representing foresters has been campaigning for this provision for some time.