The Hindu : Kerala News : Good response to amnesty package for smugglers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Good response to amnesty package for smugglers

IDUKKI, JUNE 8. An amnesty package launched by the Forest Department for smugglers of sandalwood worth crores of rupees every year from the Marayur reserve forest in the district has started yielding good results, forest officials said.

The package, started on May 31, has already seen nearly 50 smugglers giving up the illegal trade. Six others surrendered before the authorities on Monday, the officials said.

The new initiative, introduced after the Forest and the Police Departments failed to curb the smuggling by force, is likely to be extended for two more days, though the deadline was slated for today.

The increasing incidents of smuggling from this sandalwood belt, bordering Tamil Nadu, have been a big headache for the departments.

Though hundreds of cases had been registered and many arrests made, sandalwood worth crores of rupees was continuing to be smuggled out.

The arrested smugglers were let off on the guarantee by leaders of local bodies and social workers that they would not again indulge in the illegal activity.

Now the department was planning to start a mass awareness programme among the local people, without whose support smugglers from outside could not sneak into the reserved area, the officials said. — UNI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala