In a particular gesture, the Superintendent of Police (SP) P. Shymala Devi has appealed to tribals within the Yelagiri and Jawadhu Hills within the district to voluntarily give up their unlawful nation made weapons.

In coordination with forest and income officers, the Tirupattur taluk police organised a sequence of consciousness campaigns in opposition to utilizing unlawful country-made weapons, illicit arrack, and poaching of untamed animals within the forests. The drive was additionally meant to be a part of ballot preparedness of the district police forward of 2026 Meeting election. “Tribals can give up unlawful country-made weapons to the closest police station voluntarily. Their identities won’t be disclosed, and no circumstances might be filed in opposition to them,” Ms. Devi stated.

Ms. Devi trekked the slim hilly stretches, together with police personnel, and met tribal leaders and village headsman to persuade them of the necessity to give up unlawful weapons to the district police.

Surrounded by thick forest areas, three main tribal villages resembling Pudur Nadu, Nellivasal Nadu, and Pungampattu Nadu type a cluster of 32 hamlets. These hamlets are positioned on the Tirupattur facet of the Jawadhu Hills. Most tribal farmers domesticate saffron, sugarcane, banana, and greens resembling brinjal, tomatoes, and inexperienced chilies. They use country-made weapons to protect crops from wild animals.

Police stated that possession of nation made weapons may have helped tribals to guard themselves from wild animals, thefts and small searching functions earlier than independence. It may additionally assist them to move their produce to markets within the plains and return house safely. With higher roads and transport after independence, possession of unlawful arms is pointless.

Forest officers stated that such consciousness will assist to dispel worry amongst tribals that circumstances might be registered in opposition to them after they give up weapons to the police or forest officers. Additionally, in some circumstances, tribals could also be prepared to give up weapons, however they weren’t conscious of the way in which to do it. The initiative is aimed to encourage tribals to voluntarily give up the weapons with none worry.

The initiative comes within the wake of a sequence of nation made weapons seized by police within the area after police performed shock checks based mostly on alerts in 2025. Police stated that the majority nation made weapons within the hills have been handed by means of generations. As per police information, the district has 177 licensed weapons, that are surrendered principally previous to elections.