Bhopal, Aug. 8 -- The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to rearm forest personnel with firearms after four years, granting them immunity similar to police officers in cases of use. The order came into effect on Friday, amid mounting threats to conservation efforts in protected and reserved forest areas. The decision follows a recent directive from the Madhya Pradesh high court, which sought a reply from the state government on the security of forest officials after 8 personnel were injured in June during an anti-encroachment drive in Khandwa. In a gazette notification issued on Friday, the government cited the growing vulnerability of forest land, wildlife, and forest based resources as the reason for restoring firearms to forest staff....