Sophisticated Insas rifles and 9mm pistols will be utilised in protecting tigers at Jim Corbett National Park. Constituted in 2010, Corbett's Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) will equip its commandos, likely to be recruited in near future, with the rifles and pistols. Corbett administration is all set to recruit personnel since inking of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between National Tiger Conservation Authority and Uttarakhand Government two days back paved the way for it.
Swinging into action, the Corbett administration has begun preparations to recruit personnel for the STPF. Youths in the age bracket of 18 and 22 will be entitled to apply for the various posts in the force. Selected youths would undergo year-long rigorous training on par with commandos. Special focus would be on training in operating sophisticated firearms, including insas and 9mm. The selected youths would also be aware about GPS systems.
Selected youths, after the training, would be deployed in the field with duty to ensure intensified patrolling. While on patrolling, if STPF personnel notice any poaching activity, they would have order to open fire in case in order to keep poachers away from the protected forest area. The commandos' teams would perform their duty on rotation.
The team would function under direct monitoring of additional conservator of forest (ACF). After they complete 40-year of age, the STPF personnel would be accommodated in the forest department. A total of 112 personnel would be recruited. Of these, 63 would be selected through direct recruitment. The 27 posts, which are reserved for Van Gujjars, would be of contractual in nature. However, they would also undergo the same training. STPF would have three companies. A company would include 30 STPF personnel, forester and ranger one each. The force would further strengthen protection of the tigers. Corbett Park director RK Mishra said, "Young and dynamic STPF personnel would add to our strength in protecting the tigers. They have a deterrent value. In case of trouble, they would have right to open fire so that the poachers could not dare venturing into the forest area."
"Tiger population is rising as a result of our sincere efforts. To protect them, we require a young and dynamic force equipped with ultramodern firearms. We would develop STPF in the manner that it could serve our purpose. A plan is ready to equip the STPF personnel with modern mobile phones and firearms. Induction of young force will add to our mobility required to make protection efforts stronger," Mishra said.
He revealed that STPF personnel, as they complete 40 years of age, they would be given posting in other than the force. “It is our effort to keep the STPF dynamic forever,” Mishra added.