No animal harmed in hunting festival

In a major success for the Jharkhand forest department, the annual Bishu Sendra Parv (hunting festival) of the tribal community passed off without killing of an animal in the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary today.
Armed with traditional weapons, tribals from East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts of Jharkhand and bordering districts West Bengal and Odisha climbed the Dalma hill but no animal was harmed, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary DFO, Kamlesh Pandey, said.
The forest department had made adequate security arrangement to prevent hunting of animals during the festival and succeeded in its effort, Pandey said.
The forest department officials, however, seized some nets laid in the forest to trap animals, he said.

Keeping in view the festival, the forest department has made elaborate security arrangement and set up 15 check post at various points to check entry of tribals willing to take part in the hunting.
Besides, 25 magistrates have been deputed at strategic joints to prevent killing of the wildlife, he said, adding that the magistrates were also deputed at railway stations to discourage the hunters.