A two day training programme on the maintenance and use of firearms for forest guards of Corbett tiger reserve began on Thursday. While some wildlife activists alleged that shots were fired for practice inside Corbett in violation of the law, the department officials have rejected this allegation.
The police is assisting the Corbett authorities in training the forest guards in the use of firearms at Kalagarh in Corbett. According to the Corbett deputy director Dr Saket Badola, 30 forest guards are being trained in two batches of 15 each as part of the training programme.
Responding to allegations made by some wildlife activists about a firing range being set up and shots being fired for practice in the Kalagarh area of Corbett frequented by tigers and elephants, Badola stressed that only a mock drill was organised to teach the various stances to be taken while shooting.