Birds are killed in Jatinga, suicide a myth

GUWAHATI, Jan 25 – Jatinga, a tiny hamlet in Assam’s North Cachar Hills district, acquired fame for its ‘suicidal birds but environmentalists now contend that the birds do not die on their own but are killed by the local villagers. The pictureseque village, surrounded by the Barail hills, the Dholong river in South-West and Jatinga river in the West, has been a matter of interest for tourists and nature lovers alike for the curious phenomenon of birds killing themselves by jumping into fire during the month of September and October. Several theories have been propounded regarding the suicidal tendencies of the birds but environmentalists have now come to the conclusion that they are trapped by the villagers and killed for their meat, says environment-journalist Amal Gupta, who has just authored a book on the phenomenon Atmaghati Pakhi (Suicidal Birds). Gupta, who has collected evidences and compared the reports of several environmentalists, pointsout that migratory birds when they arrived at Jatinga after traversing long distances become weak and take time to adjust to the geographical and climatic condition of the hills. The birds visiting Jatinga have been identified as Green Pigeon, Indian Rudi Kingfisher, Koel, Black Wheaton, Spotted Dove, Tiger Wheaton, Bluerock Thrush, Bustard Quill, Cotton Teal, Laser Whistling Teal, White-winged Wood Duck, Banded Crane, Purple Heron, Indian Drungo Cuckoo and many other birds of rare species. Noted environmentalist Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury also points out that “his long experience with birds also does not support the theory that the birds commit suicide by leaping into the fire”. According to him the birds, mostly migratory, come from the cold countries. On reaching Jatinga they are frail and weak and flock to the fire, lighted by the villagers in search of warmth. “The villagers wait for this opportunity and with long sticks injure the birds and when they are unable to fly away they are killed for their meat,” says Choudhury in the preface to Gupta’s book. Gupta has also cited a report of the Geographical Survey of India in this regard. In one of the studies, GSI scientist Dr Sudhin Sengupta had held that the geological structure of the surrounding hills, is to great extent responsible for creating an abnormal climatic condition for the birds. According to Sengupta, the hills surrounding Jatinga have strong geo-magnetic and electro-magnetic force that increases further during the month of September-October making it difficult for the migratory birds to acclimatise in the area. Besides, the hills also abound in Crystal Cement glass which give the hills a sheen that attracts the thirty birds in search of water. When the birds approach the hills, the magnetic force renders their wings heavy which not only prevent them from flying but also makes them unable to eat. This results in the death of many birds while many continue sitting on the slopes of the hills, Sengupta observed. It is under these circumstances that the villagers light the fires to trap the birds and kill them after injuring them with long sticks. He also pointed out that this particular phenomenon is not restricted to Jatinga alone but migratory birds are faced with same conditions in Sri Lanka, Port Blair in Andamans and also in the Malabar Hills in Mumbai. Gupta has also pointed out in the book that the birds dying in the Jatinga Hills is not a recent phenomenon but existed more than hundred years ago. The Jemi-Naga tribe had occupied the village in the early part of the last century and they would light fire to keep away wild animals from destroying their crops but birds flocked in large number and died in the blaze. The Jimi-Nagas were terrified of this phenomenon and in 1905 sold of the village for Rs 25 to a village elder Lakhan Bhang Suchiang.