Jharkhand
Naxalism is fading from Jharkhand’s forests, but a new threat takes its place, as reported by ETV Bharat. Tiger poaching in Jharkhand is rising, fueled by desi guns smuggled from Chhattisgarh and handed to villagers around Palamu Tiger Reserve. Officials arrested nine poachers last week, uncovering a disturbing link between wildlife traffickers and gun runners.
Over 40 crude firearms—made from truck steering metal and pipes—have been seized in just one year. Smugglers not only supply these weapons but also train locals in their manufacture. What once served insurgency now arms poachers hunting tigers and other wildlife, exposing systemic failure in border control.
Palamu’s forests are already fragile. Adding weapons into the hands of poachers guarantees more tiger deaths, more ecological collapse. These guns may be crude, but their impact is deadly. Authorities promise joint action. Promises are cheap. Tigers need enforcement, not another cycle of neglect.
