A special training on investigation of offense and report writing for the concern forest officials concluded at Kaziranga National Park in Assam on Tuesday.
The training was organized by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) with the support of International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Assam Forest Department.
All together 15 forest officials including foresters from three national parks had participated in the training.
Among the participants, eight were from Manas Tiger Reserve, five from Kaziranga National Park and two from Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
Pallab Lochan Das, MP, cum member of the governing body of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) inaugurated the workshop on February 14 last.
The five-day workshop focused on crime investigation, recording and preparing complaints for trial court.
This was stated in a WTI press release.
The objective was to improve conviction in wildlife offenses through quality complaint filing in the legal forum.
Bhupen Talukdar, Divisional Conservator of Forest (rtd), renowned wildlife crime and investigation expert cum trainer, Rizaul Haque, advocate and legal consultant of Manas Tiger Reserve have thoroughly trained the participants on the crime- scenario investigation procedures and offence report writing to strengthen the legal battle for conviction for the criminal in the eyes of law during the five-day session.
The participants also learnt from the practical crime scene investigation sessions in the training.
P Siva Kumar, IFS, director, Kaziranga National Park, Ramesh Gogoi, AFS, divisional forest officer (DFO), Eastern Assam Wildlife Division (EAWLD) along with Dr Bhaskar Choudhury, regional co-ordinator of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) have also encouraged the participants by sharing their field experience on wildlife crime for the betterment of the protection of the national parks in Assam.
This was the fourth consecutive special training on investigation of offense and report writing for the frontline staff of Assam Forest Department conducted by IFAW and WTI jointly with Assam Forest Department.