Jamshedpur, June 12: Forest officials are having a tough time in getting information regarding poaching, illegal felling of trees and mining in the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve, as the intelligence agents (read villagers) have stopped providing tip-off fearing extremist backlash.

A divisional forest officer, on condition of anonymity, said for the past few months, the youths have remained incommunicado with regard to providing information about illicit felling of trees and influx of jungle mafia into the reserve fearing for life.

?The villagers believe that it is very difficult to convince the rebels that they are working for the forest department and not for the police. They fear that the Maoists will kill them for passing information to government officials,? he said.

?In the absence of tip-offs, the forest personnel have also stopped visiting the suspected hideouts of rebels in the reserve,? he added.

Chief conservator of forests (wildlife) U.R. Biswas said that the series of Naxalite attacks on police and forest personnel have led to failure of intelligence network in forest areas.

?Nobody wishes to share or pass any information related to anti-social activities in forest areas due to threat of life,? the official said.

He added that divisional forest officials have been asked to strengthen village committees formed under the Joint Forest Management in the reserve.

?If more villagers are associated with the committees, the forest department will get crucial information about the anti-social activities in the forest area,? he said.

Another reason attributed to this is the reduction in funds allocated for intelligence activities in forest areas.

According to conservator of forests (southern circle) K.K. Chhatterjee, the central government provides funds for various works right from the preservation of elephant corridors to developing intelligence network in the reserve.

?But the funds often reach late and many activities including intelligence are directly affected because of lack of funds. So far, the funds sanctioned this fiscal has not yet reached the state.? he said.