The Forest Department has arrested two persons for setting fire in Senganatham Reserve Forest (RF) at the foothills of Jawadhu Hills near Vellore town on Wednesday.
Forest officials said the arrested persons were identified as J. Ifran, 28 and J. Bhakith Basha, 23. They belong to Saidapet, which comes under Vellore Corporation limits.
Initial inquiry revealed that a team of forest officials were patrolling the RF when they saw the duo in the prohibited area. They was collecting dry leaves and small fallen branches to add them into the fire they were setting in the forest area.
Immediately, the forest team doused off the fire before spreading to other areas in the RF. They also seized a small quantity of ganja, cigarettes, a few litres of petrol and matchsticks from them. A case was registered. Later, they were lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. A probe is underway.
Meanwhile, Vellore Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi warned people of strict action against trespassing into reserve forests (RFs) in six forest ranges in the district, to prevent any harm to forest resources including wildlife and green cover.
The Collector’s directive comes in the wake of frequent forest fires that have been reported in protected areas in Vellore, Amirthi and Pernambut forest ranges on Tamil Nadu - Andhra Pradesh border in recent weeks.
Published - February 26, 2025 11:48 pm IST
