Forest Department destroys 125 illegal country-made guns in Tiruvannamalai

District Collector Vandana Garg launched the drive to destroy seized illegal firearms at the Collectorate. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Forest Department destroyed 125 illegal country-made guns using a road roller at the Office of the District Collector in Tiruvannamalai town on Tuesday, as part of Wildlife Week Celebrations.

Forest officials said that the drive was aimed to prevent illegal hunting and to protect wildlife under the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Forest officials approached tribals living on the fringes of forests to voluntarily surrender illegal country-made firearms in their possession. “General amnesty to volunteers who surrender country-made guns have helped recover these illegal firearms from the public. Support from the public is key to prevent such possession of firearms,” S. Gunasekaran, forest range officer (FRO), Jamunamarathur range (Jawadhu Hills), told The Hindu.