The Jatinga Episode

THE JATINGA EPISODE

An unusual suicide incident takes place in the hilly area known as Jatinga in the NC Hills district of the state.

Hundreds of tourists visit this spot to see this episode.

It happens on a moonless dark night sometime in October or in the winter season. This mysterious ‘incident’ or ‘accident’ has been taking place every year.

The very natural environ takes on an uncanny cloak – for instance, a cold wind blows. Villagers huddle at pre-determined spots.

At around a particular time, some living beings start flying to this wide spread area. These are the tourist birds. They can come in hordes or all alone.

The very scene of the birds of different species flocking here at the dead of night, the spine chilling natural surroundings, and the pin-drop silence entice the tourists – the winged ones as well as human beings. 

The notable aspect is that these birds keep on encircling this area for a significant period – long enough for the bird hunters to trap them.

The subject is research is why the birds coming from faraway lands keep on flying around a particular spot?

Some avid bird watchers feel that this place has a magnetic force that makes the birds behave in that strange manner.

Others are baffled!

Whatever may be the reason, one thing is for sure, though. The state forest department and the local NGOs along with the nature lovers must join hands to stop the unscrupulous elements trading in the birds after they are hit.

The modus operandi of the bird hunters is simple. These bird poachers burn a torch once they see the birds gathering in the sky.

The birds fly downwards on seeing the flickering lights. The moment they come quite near the terra firma, the bird hunters hit them with sticks and capture them.

These beautiful colorful birds of various species are then traded. Many are even exported. The smuggling racket flourishing on these captured birds is believed to run into millions of dollars.