Jamshedpur: To prevent hunting on the occasion of the Bisu Sendra festival, the forest department has implemented extensive security measures in the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, officials said.
Security Deployment
Several tribal groups will enter the sanctuary on the night of Saturday to Sunday to observe the hunting ritual on Sunday. "We have deployed over 500 personnel from the forest department and the East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts to prevent people from carrying prohibited items into the forest," said DFO of Dalma, Saba Alam Ansari.
He added that 12 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, 20 range officials, 150 forest guards, 130 Van Raksha Samiti (VRS) volunteers, and 10 police officers have been assigned to ensure the safety and security of the sanctuary.
Checkpoints and Patrols
"Temporary checkpoints have been set up at a dozen locations, along with regular patrolling on 20 separate stretches along the Dalma foothills," the DFO added.
Rituals and Restrictions
The Dalma Buru Sendra Samiti (DBSS), the main organization that conducts the hunting festival, held prayers at Fadulgora on the foothills on Saturday. According to organizing committee members, a small group gathers for prayers before dispersing throughout the forest overnight, with hunting taking place at dawn.
Forest officials stated that festive groups may enter the forest area with traditional bows and arrows as they perform special prayers for the weapons prior to hunting, following a practice observed since time immemorial. However, prohibited items such as ropes, nets, traps, modern weapons, and explosives are not allowed.
Awareness and Appeals
Dalma Raja Rakesh Hembram, who is also president of the organizing committee, said that over the years, awareness sessions organized by the forest department have helped tribals realize the adverse impact of hunting wildlife. "We have appealed to the Sendra warriors to observe the festival in a token manner without causing harm to wild animals," said Hembram.
Despite the appeal, instances of hunting monkeys, deer, wild boar, and birds have been reported in the past.
