Red Blood Black Rose
Nakharaghat
Although this forest land of Shal-Mahua is not in Bengal, there was a time, that is, sixty or seventy years ago, when many Bengalis, especially wealthy Bengalis, used to come to this area of the neighboring state. Some of them used to come to recover their health in the beautiful environment of nature, while others used to come to hunt. At that time, tigers could also be seen in this area. Whatever tigers were there, the white-skinned and their black-skinned countrymen would soon clear them. It took almost twenty-five years after independence to make a wildlife conservation law in this country, and hunting of wild animals was prohibited. Even though the law was late, maybe that is why, or maybe not the tigers, several wild animals still survive in this area. Some animals like wolves, hyenas, bears. In addition, deer and wild boars. Therefore, this forest area is currently a protected forest area, and there is also an office of the Forest Department here. There is a small staff quarter next to the tin-roofed office surrounded by barbed wire, and a house that looks like a pond surrounded by water at the back of the office. Sometimes, small wild animals are rescued and kept there. Then they are taken care of and released into the forest or sent to the zoo in Ranchi. Apart from Kaustov, there are only three employees in this small office of the forest department. One of them is a peon and two are forest guards. Kaustov, however, has only been in charge of this office for a week. His subordinate peons and forest guards have been working here for several years.
