A shocking video of armed youths joyriding inside a protected tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh has led to swift arrests and a major security review. Forest authorities, supported by police, have taken three men into custody while a minor involved in the incident remains at large.
The Viral Video That Triggered Action
The clip, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, shows four individuals in a sports utility vehicle entering the sensitive Sarhi core zone of the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR). The video captures them brandishing what appear to be air rifles, firing shots into the air and towards unseen targets. In a brazen act, they also lit a recreational fire within the reserve at night. The footage includes background music and a police siren sound effect as the group poses in a manner reminiscent of hunters.
Swift Clampdown and Arrests
Acting on the outrage generated by the video, a joint team of forest and police personnel launched an immediate investigation. Deputy director of ATR U R Ganesh confirmed the arrests of three individuals from the Lormi–Mungeli region. The arrested accused have been identified as Ajit Das Vaishnav (26), Aniket Maurya (27), and Vikrant Vaishnav (32). The fourth person, a juvenile who is suspected to have filmed the video, is currently evading authorities.
Officials revealed that one of the main accused, Ajit Das Vaishnav, is the son of a local notable family from Lormi and is the registered owner of the seized Tata Safari SUV. Vikrant Vaishnav is his brother-in-law, while Aniket Maurya is a friend. The investigating team has confiscated the vehicle and two air rifles used in the incident.
Legal Repercussions and Security Overhaul
The seized weapons have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Raipur for detailed examination to determine their calibre and for ballistic analysis. Based on the FSL report, authorities will decide on invoking stringent laws, including the Arms Act, 1959 and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), in consultation with Mungeli police. There is also suspicion that another firearm might be involved, which is yet to be recovered. A court-issued search warrant is active, and a dog squad has been deployed to locate the missing weapon.
In response to the serious security lapse, forest authorities have ordered an internal inquiry to be led by the assistant director (core zone), a gazetted officer. The probe will focus on failures in barrier management and supervision. Based on preliminary findings, a proposal for disciplinary action has been sent against the in-charges of the Jakadbandha and Kanchanpur barriers. In a directive to prevent future breaches, all entry barriers to the reserve have been instructed to conduct rigorous checks of every vehicle, without any exceptions for local residents.
This incident highlights the challenges of protecting India's critical wildlife habitats from reckless behaviour amplified by social media 'reel culture'. The swift action by Chhattisgarh's forest department sends a strong message against such violations in ecologically sensitive zones.
