Personnel of the elite Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) received a shot in the arm with Environment and Forest Minister Sidda Raghava Rao equipping them with the lightweight yet sturdy 0.32 MK-III revolver on Wednesday.
The firearm fills a crucial gap in the functioning of the task force, as it helps the personnel to be better prepared to take on smugglers who are often well-armed and operate in dangerous terrain across five districts in the State.
“The revolver, manufactured by the Indian Ordinance Factory for security force personnel, will go a long way towards countering smugglers who attack task force personnel with country-made guns, iron rods, axes and stones,” the Minister said after distributing 125 revolvers worth ₹1.16 crore.
The revolver is capable of firing accurately within a range of 10 to 15 metres.
Admitting that the department faced a staff shortage, Mr. Raghava Rao said this would be addressed by the government on a priority basis.
“There is no dearth of funds when it comes to equipping the personnel with latest weapons,” he asserted.
The State stood first in forest cover with a maximum increase of 2,140 sq km in two years thanks to concerted plantation and conservation activities within and outside the forest areas, Mr. Raghava Rao said.
Green cover
People should contribute their mite to improve the State’s green cover to 50% by 2020 from 23.53% now, as envisaged by the Government, he said.
“The Government would launch 18 eco-tourism projects across the State to woo nature lovers to the forests on the one hand and protect and promote flora and fauna with improved conservation efforts,” he added.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) A.K. Jha said with the addition of the weapon, the elite force would step up its combing operations in the forest areas in the districts of Chittoor, Kadapa, Nellore, Prakasam and Kurnool.
The steel-bodied rust-proof revolver had been provided with additional safety features to help prevent accidents, Mr. Jha explained.
More weapons
Mr. Jha said the personnel would also be equipped soon with another 250 Pump Action Guns manufactured by Kanpur-based Field Gun Factory for the personnel to act in tandem with inter-department and inter-state forest departments, police and other personnel in protecting the precious national wealth.
The road network in interior forests was being improved for better mobility of the personnel concerned, he added.