BETTIAH, June 1 -- The forest department has decided to raise a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) to safeguard tigers in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) area of West Champaran district in Bihar, officials said. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dr. Nesamani K, Conservator and Field Director of Valmiki Tiger Reserve, stated on Saturday that the state government had approved a proposal sent by the reserve and expressed hope that STPF personnel would be deployed shortly. "The entire forest area of VTR will be protected by three platoons of the STPF, each comprising 30 jawans and six foresters under the approved proposal," Dr. Nesamani said. Spread over an area of 900 square kilometres, the VTR is broadly divided into eight forest ranges. While Raghiya, Goberdhana, and Maghuraha fall under Division One, Division Two includes Madanpur, Valmikinagar, Ganauli, Harnatand, and Chitaha ranges....