Arunachal Pradesh tiger reserve camp destroyed; hunt on for attackers 

An operation has been launched to catch 10 people, including seven women, who allegedly led a mob that destroyed a newly-constructed anti-poaching camp in India’s easternmost tiger reserve. 

GUWAHATI

An operation has been launched to catch 10 people, including seven women, who allegedly led a mob that destroyed a newly-constructed anti-poaching camp in India’s easternmost tiger reserve. 

Forest officials in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district have often been in conflict with the Yobin community living in and around the 1,985 sq km Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve. 

On June 5, ahead of an official programme to observe World Environment Day, some 150 people attacked the Burma Nallah camp of the Forest Department located in the 40th Mile area along the Miao-Vijaynagar Road. 

According to an FIR lodged at the Miao police station, 10 people were primarily behind the attack, which was led by Atasa Yobin of Gandhigram. Ngwazosa Yobin was named as the mastermind who had allegedly planned the attack at a meeting held in Gandhigram on June 4. 

The Indian Penal Code Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 447 (criminal trespass), 427 (mischief), 392 (robbery), 186 (voluntarily obstructing any public servant in the discharge of his public functions) and 506 (criminal intimidation) were slapped against the attackers. 

The FIR said the attackers first disconnected the wireless telegraphy set, snatched the mobile phones of the Forest personnel and destroyed other properties, including a watch tower.