Irked over rising theft incidents and violent attacks on roving shepherds in the State, Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri on Thursday sought guns and police protection for them.
Bharmouri who hailed from Chamba district and belonged to the same community, said that several complaints had been reaching him about theft and attacks on innocent shepherds, who move from one place to another.
“There is a clear cut threat from robbers and anti-social elements to the life and livestock of shepherds as they move from one place to other in the State,” said Bharmouri, adding that in the past also he raised the issue but still things had not come under control.
He added that for shepherds their livestock was the only asset and now they had become increasingly vulnerable to the thieves and anti-social elements, who were attacking them and took away with their livestock.
Bharmouri said that theft and attack incidents had been reported largely from Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Kullu and Sirmour districts. “I believe that licensed guns should be provided to the shepherds for the protection of their properties and lives,” he added.
Bharmouri asked all the Superintendents of Police of the State to provide police protection to all the shepherds moving in their respective districts by deputing flying squads within the jurisdiction of their districts.
A large number of shepherds mostly from Chamba and other tribal districts of the State with the onset of winter on high reaches move to lower areas of the State to graze their livestock and spend nearly six months moving from one place to another.
In the hinterland of State, movement of shepherds marks the arrival of winter when large of goats and sheep’s are seen grazing on the lush green grass in the valleys and hills. In the past also Bharmouri had been raising the issue of protection for shepherds in the State.