Chhattisgarh: Illegal hunters ‘set afire’ forest to flush out preys in Bastar region

RAIPUR: Vast stretches of forest in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, particularly in Dantewada’s Bailadila hills, have been burning for over a week, with mounting evidence suggesting that many of the fires are being deliberately set to aid hunting in a landscape that is rapidly changing after the decline of Maoist activity.Drone footage shows flames sweeping across hill slopes, leaving behind charred earth and thick smoke columns visible from kilometres away.Forest officials said the fires have damaged not just tree cover but the delicate ecological balance of a dense forest that supports a wide range of fauna — from herbivores like sambhar, cheetal and wild boar to smaller ones such as rabbits and squirrels, along with reptiles and a rich diversity of birdlife.The region’s moist forest floor and lantana-rich grasslands, created to support herbivores, also make it an attractive ground for predators like tigers.The blaze around Bhansi deposit area-04 near Raja Bungalow — a forest patch developed over the past five to six years as a rich wildlife zone — has scorched large swathes of land and vegetation.At the heart of the issue lies the tribal hunting practice known as ‘Parad’, a long-standing summer tradition in parts of Bastar. Typically observed between March and June, ‘Parad’ involves groups of 200–300 villagers entering forests together for collective hunting.Historically, the practice is believed to have emerged as a survival mechanism during harsh summers when food scarcity was acute. Locals said that over time, it evolved into a ritual, with a strong belief that abstaining from the hunt could anger local deities. Even today, many communities see participation as both a cultural and spiritual obligation.However, forest officials say the scale and nature of ‘Parad’ appears to be changing. Earlier confined to limited areas and subsistence hunting, it is now being reported deeper inside forest zones and, in some cases, linked with commercial motives such as sale of skins.“When Maoists were active, such large gatherings inside deep forests were rare. Now access has widened,” an official said.Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Arun Kumar Pandey told TOI that during the tendu leaves season, it’s common that dry leaves catch fire easily and spread rapidly. As far as ‘Parad’ tradition is concerned, the forest department has been extra vigilant about it since it endangers wildlife, he said.“I have sought a detailed report on the matter and issued instructions to carry out actions in joint coordination with police to avoid law and order situation,” Pandey said.Locals allege that the fires are not accidental. Some of them told authorities that sections of the forest were deliberately set ablaze to flush out animals, making them easier to hunt as they flee shrinking cover in search of water. Once trapped or exhausted, the animals are hunted — often on the spot. While earlier such hunting was largely for subsistence, there are now indications that animal skins and parts are being sold, raising concerns of a growing illegal wildlife trade.Forest department teams have struggled to contain the blaze, drawing criticism over delayed response and lack of manpower in the rugged terrain. The situation has been further complicated by recent incidents of alleged attacks on forest staff by suspected poachers.The unfolding crisis also reflects a deeper transition in Bastar. For years, dense forests and Maoist presence acted as a deterrent to large-scale human intrusion. Security forces, too, would occasionally use controlled fire for visibility during anti-insurgency operations to prevent ambushes. With Maoist influence shrinking, those constraints have eased — but the vacuum is increasingly being exploited for unchecked entry into deeper forest zones.Wildlife activist Nitin Singhvi has written to Chhattisgarh chief secretary seeking deployment of DRG personnel with forest teams in Bastar, warning that forests are turning into a “safe haven for poachers” after the decline of LWE activity. Citing reports from Raja Bungalow area in Dantewada, Singhvi said forest patches were allegedly being set on fire to drive animals out, after which poachers trap them in snares and nets. Wildlife such as deer, wild boar, gaur, herbivores and carnivores are being targeted, he said.Singhvi claimed that in one Dantewada incident, a five-member forest team was outnumbered by nearly 150 poachers and had to retreat, exposing the vulnerability of field staff. He suggested that around 1,000 DRG personnel available in Dantewada, trained in forest terrain from anti-Naxal operations, be deployed with forest divisions across Bastar for anti-poaching drives, fire prevention and wildlife protection.