<p>Kalaburagi: Shepherds in Bagalkot will soon swap their staffs with rifles as the district police will train the nomadic shepherd community in rifle use in the wake of sheep thefts. Shepherds will be issued a rifle with a licence after the training.</p>.<p>The police say the move comes after robbers killed a shepherd and made away with his sheep at Halageri toll gate in Bagalkot district last month. Last year, eight sheep thefts were reported in the district.</p>.Major security breach at Vaishno Devi: Woman enters shrine with gun.<p>While more than 600 shepherds will be trained in the first batch from April 7, experts are apprehensive about the misuse of firearms.</p>.<p>Kurubas, who are shepherds, number around 3.5 lakh in Bagalkot district and make up around 7% of the nearly 50 lakh community members in the state.</p>.<p>District superintendent of police Amarnath Reddy said that after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last year had called for training shepherds in firearms, shepherds from the district will be trained in rifle use for self-defence and confidence-building.</p>.<p>Rifles will be distributed after checking their antecedents, ensuring those with a criminal background are not granted a licence. The six-day training includes physical exercise, lectures on rifle handling, trigger operation and safety measures.</p>.<p>Citing the Kodava community, which is not known to misuse firearms though every member possesses one or two rifles, the SP said strict legal action would be taken in case of misuse.</p>.<p>“One person can possess two weapons as per the Arms Act. Therefore, we will provide rifle training and licence within the legal framework for their self-defence. Batches of 30 shepherds will be trained on single- and double-barrel breech loader (SBBL and DBBL) guns,” he said.</p>.<p>Karnataka Pradesh Kuruba Sangh state organising secretary Hanumanth Appannavar said the move will come in handy to shepherds who tend their sheep in isolated areas at nights without proper protection. “CM Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba, had called for rifle training to shepherds and now, training will be given for the first time,” he added.</p>.<p>Trader Hanumanth Pujar said that more than 8,000 sheep, goats and lambs worth crores of rupees are being transacted every week in Bagalkot district.</p>.<p><span class="bold"><strong>Fear of misuse</strong></span></p>.<p>Expressing apprehension about the move, a few experts say misuse of guns for poaching and other criminal activities cannot be ruled out. </p>.<p>Wildlife researcher Samad Kottur expressed concern about rifles being used to kill endangered animals and accused the CM of trying to appease his community through such measures. </p>.<p>“The police should protect shepherds by installing cameras. Moreover, they have been keeping dogs, particularly herding breeds like German Shepherds, to assist in managing and protecting their livestock. Shepherds could also seek police patrolling,” he suggested.</p>
<p>Kalaburagi: Shepherds in Bagalkot will soon swap their staffs with rifles as the district police will train the nomadic shepherd community in rifle use in the wake of sheep thefts. Shepherds will be issued a rifle with a licence after the training.</p>.<p>The police say the move comes after robbers killed a shepherd and made away with his sheep at Halageri toll gate in Bagalkot district last month. Last year, eight sheep thefts were reported in the district.</p>.Major security breach at Vaishno Devi: Woman enters shrine with gun.<p>While more than 600 shepherds will be trained in the first batch from April 7, experts are apprehensive about the misuse of firearms.</p>.<p>Kurubas, who are shepherds, number around 3.5 lakh in Bagalkot district and make up around 7% of the nearly 50 lakh community members in the state.</p>.<p>District superintendent of police Amarnath Reddy said that after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last year had called for training shepherds in firearms, shepherds from the district will be trained in rifle use for self-defence and confidence-building.</p>.<p>Rifles will be distributed after checking their antecedents, ensuring those with a criminal background are not granted a licence. The six-day training includes physical exercise, lectures on rifle handling, trigger operation and safety measures.</p>.<p>Citing the Kodava community, which is not known to misuse firearms though every member possesses one or two rifles, the SP said strict legal action would be taken in case of misuse.</p>.<p>“One person can possess two weapons as per the Arms Act. Therefore, we will provide rifle training and licence within the legal framework for their self-defence. Batches of 30 shepherds will be trained on single- and double-barrel breech loader (SBBL and DBBL) guns,” he said.</p>.<p>Karnataka Pradesh Kuruba Sangh state organising secretary Hanumanth Appannavar said the move will come in handy to shepherds who tend their sheep in isolated areas at nights without proper protection. “CM Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba, had called for rifle training to shepherds and now, training will be given for the first time,” he added.</p>.<p>Trader Hanumanth Pujar said that more than 8,000 sheep, goats and lambs worth crores of rupees are being transacted every week in Bagalkot district.</p>.<p><span class="bold"><strong>Fear of misuse</strong></span></p>.<p>Expressing apprehension about the move, a few experts say misuse of guns for poaching and other criminal activities cannot be ruled out. </p>.<p>Wildlife researcher Samad Kottur expressed concern about rifles being used to kill endangered animals and accused the CM of trying to appease his community through such measures. </p>.<p>“The police should protect shepherds by installing cameras. Moreover, they have been keeping dogs, particularly herding breeds like German Shepherds, to assist in managing and protecting their livestock. Shepherds could also seek police patrolling,” he suggested.</p>