To put a check on tiger poaching, smuggling of animal parts and forest produce at the Kartaniyaghat Tiger Reserve, armed security personnel have been deployed to keep vigil round-the-clock.

“Trained forest guards, including ex-Army jawans hired by the Forest department, conduct joint patrolling with teams from the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB),” said Divisional Forest Officer R K Singh, in-charge of the reserve.

The reserve, spread in Bahraich district in a 400-sq km area, shares a 55-km-long open border with Nepal. The arrangement has been made especially for the monsoons when bad weather, water-logging, damage to forest tracks and the dense vegetation create conditions which poachers and smugglers use to their advantage. They can easily cross the open border and slip into Nepal.

The jungle has been divided into 40 beats, including 28 special vigil zones. The Sixth Battalion of the SSB, with its headquarters in Nanpara, has got 16 border outposts.

“We are regularly patrolling the area and taking assistance from the police,” said Singh.

He added that well-trained personnel have been deputed to man the special vigil zone — the permanent habitat of the tigers. “The team is armed with rifles and other equipment,” he said.

U K Neyal, Commandant of the Sixth Battalion of SSB, said: “We are providing all support to the Forest department. We conduct three to four joint patrols every week.”