Jamshedpur:
Security has been tightened to prevent tribals from poaching animals when they venture into Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary to observe their annual Bishu Parv (hunting festival) on Monday.
"A meeting of the senior forest department officials was held in view of the festival, which is popularly known as "Sendra Parv" in local dialect, and discussed the strategy to prevent poaching of innocent animals," Kamlesh Pandey, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) (Wildlife), said.
"We are deputing our personnel at various strategic entry points", he said adding that the forest department would also set up check posts to prevent tribals from entering the reserved forest areas.
One of the tribal groups from Asanboni in East Singhbhum district had observed the festival in a symbolic manner without hurting the animals, the DFO claimed.
However, the major group "Dalma Buru Sendra Samity" was adamant to observe the festival in a traditional manner on Monday.
Armed with traditional weapons, hundreds of tribals from far-flung areas of East Singhbhum and the adjoining states of West Bengal and Odisha will start climbing the Dalma forest from Sunday night to hunt animals, a senior functionary of the Samity said.