Forest Department destroys 125 illegal country-made weapons in Tiruvannamalai

District Collector Vandana Garg has launched a drive to destroy seized illegal firearms in the Collectorate. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

As part of the Wildlife Week celebrations, the Forest Department destroyed 125 illegal country-made weapons using a road war at the District Collector’s Office in Tiruvannamalai town on Tuesday.

Forest officials said the drive was aimed at preventing illegal hunting and protecting wildlife under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Forest officials have approached tribals living on the fringes of forests to voluntarily surrender illegal country-made firearms in their possession. “The general amnesty to volunteers surrendering country-made weapons has helped in recovering these illegal firearms from the public. Public support is the key to prevent such possession of firearms,” ​​S. Gunasekaran, range officer (FRO), Jamunamarathur range (Jawadhu Hills), told The Hindu.

Collector Vandana Garg launched the drive to destroy seized illegal firearms at the Collectorate in the presence of R. Udhayakumar, Superintendent of Police, K. Sudhagar, District Forest Officer, A. Sivasubramania Pillai, District Revenue Officer and G. Vinothraj, Assistant Conservator of Forests.

Among the forest ranges, Nadanur forest has the highest number of firearms (41) destroyed in the Collectorate, followed by Santhavasal (22), Melpattu (19), Polur (17) and Jamunamarathur (15). “Forest officials are reaching out to tribal elders in the hills to convince the villagers to give up their village guns,” said S. Vembu, a resident.

Forest officials said tribals have traditionally owned illegal country-made weapons to protect themselves from wild animals, theft and hunting purposes.

These weapons also helped farmers transport their produce from the hills to the foothills and return home safely with their earnings. “With better roads, police and transport, such possession of illegal weapons is no longer required,” Vinohraj said.

Forest officials said the general amnesty offered by the forest department and the district police in 2016 and 2021 has helped many people, especially hill tribes, voluntarily surrender illegal firearms. Awareness, including door-to-door meetings with residents, about the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms was to continue.

Published – 07 Oct 2026 05:30 IST