Assam's move to deploy forest force for polls sparks wildlife security fears

If forest protection personnel are asked to man the elections, who will safeguard the wildlife? That’s the question doing serious rounds in poll-bound Assam after its government decided to deploy nearly 1,600 Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) personnel for poll duty. The matter has triggered a controversy with several retired civil servants and forest officials, besides conservationists, flagging concerns.

The AFPF is works for the protection and security of forests, forest produce and wildlife.

Assam issued order on March 19

Assam’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s order, issued on March 19 by Mahandra Kumar Yadava, the state’s special chief secretary, environment, forest and climate change, has directed the AFPF to mobilise 1,600 personnel to help the state police for the polls scheduled for April 9. Commandants have been asked to mobilise the force and ensure reporting by Friday (April 3).

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The unprecedented move to pull a large chunk of frontline staff to the polling front from green zones, despite them being asked to continue with their regular duties, could lower the guard against anti-poaching activities in the border state’s sensitive rhino regions. The security of other endangered species would also be exposed.

Concerns despite CM Sarma's claims on rhinos

Even though Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed a few months ago that not a single rhino was killed in the north-eastern state in 2025, thanks to its excellent conservation efforts, the idea of diverting the forest-saving personnel has not gone down well with many.

The AFPF forms the backbone of forest protection enforcement in Assam, handling anti-poaching operations, preventing illegal logging and keeping a check on encroachment. Much of this work happens in remote and vulnerable areas, where the constant presence of personnel is key.

Wildlife experts, ex bureaucrats object

A group of 40 retired civil servants under the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG) has written to Assam’s Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, urging him to withdraw the order. The group, comprising former IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service) and IFS (Indian Forest Service) officers, said the decision goes against established norms.

In their letter, they pointed out that Election Commission guidelines discourage the use of specialised field forces such as forest personnel for election duty, as it can disrupt essential services. “Forest protection cannot be paused. Diverting trained personnel on this scale will weaken safeguards on the ground,” the group said.

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They also referred to a 2024 Supreme Court direction, which recognised the specialised nature of forest work and kept such personnel out of election deployment. Any deviation from this, they warned, could invite legal scrutiny.

On the ground, the concern is more practical. While the government has indicated that senior officials will oversee forest areas during the election period, experts say supervision cannot replace field presence.

'Can't protect forest from office'

“You can’t run forest protection from an office. Once boots are off the ground, gaps open up,” said a former forest officer.

Wildlife experts say the timing is particularly worrying. Assam’s forests, including sensitive zones, are home to endangered species, besides the one-horned rhinoceros, hoolock gibbon, golden langur and pygmy hog. These areas require round-the-clock vigilance to prevent poaching and illegal activities.

Patrolling key for Assam's Kaziranga

Protected landscapes in the state, such as the Kaziranga National Park, depend heavily on continuous patrolling. Even a temporary thinning of staff, they say, could increase vulnerability.

Adding to the pressure, retired IFS officer and conservationist Prakriti Srivastava, along with six other former senior officials and experts, has also written to the chief secretary seeking immediate withdrawal of the order.

The signatories include former environment secretary Meena Gupta, former principal chief conservator of forests Dr A K Jha and Dr Uma Shankar Singh, leading wildlife expert Prerna Singh Bindra and conservation policy analyst Debadityo Sinha.

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Srivastava termed the move a clear violation of both EC guidelines and Supreme Court directions. She warned that pulling out such a large number of trained personnel could leave the forests exposed.

“This is not just an administrative decision. It directly affects protection on the ground. If field staff are reduced, the risks increase immediately,” she said.

She also cautioned that the decision sets a poor precedent and raises questions about adherence to legal safeguards.

The experts have said in unison that forest protection cannot take a back seat, even during elections.