The Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) has become active in Corbett tiger reserve. Conducting patrolling in the tiger reserve, about 80 personnel comprising the force also identified suspicious aspects they came across. The officials informed that the STPF will focus especially on the Corbett border with Uttar Pradesh which is about 100 kilometres long.
The STPF teams will patrol about 10 to 15 kilometre area in each range of Corbett every day. The STPF team is equipped with two drones, two metal detectors, three sniffer dogs, .315 bore rifles, Government issue and licensed revolvers and other equipment. Official sources state that the force has been accorded special training for its tasks.
The force will especially guard the 100 kilometre southern boundary of Corbett. Teams of the STPF personnel will patrol about 10 to 15 kilometres each in various ranges of Corbett on a daily basis.
In addition to this, the teams will also be involved in raids conducted outside in coordination with the Special Operation Group (SOG). The 80 personnel in the STPF have been divided in to various teams.The teams will patrol Dhela, Bijrani, Jhirna, Kalagarh and other areas of Corbett. A special team has also been formed to conduct raids along with the SOG, informed officials.
It will be recalled that while hearing on a public interest litigation during August, the High Court had asked the State Government as to when the STPF would start functioning effectively.