Official Investigation Launched into Forest Officials’ Assault
Ramnagar: In a case where villagers in Okhaldhunga village of Betalghat development block, attacked a forest official in anger following the death of a woman due to a tiger attack, the Forest Department has filed a complaint demanding the registration of a case against four named individuals, including a woman, and other unidentified people.
A complaint was submitted by Forest Range Officer of Kota Range, Jaswant Singh, to the Ramnagar Police Station. According to the Forest Department, on Tuesday evening, a few women from Okhaldhunga village went to the nearby forest to collect firewood and grass, during which one woman was killed by a tiger. Upon receiving the information, the staff went to the site, but during the night, some individuals tried to misbehave with them.
On Wednesday, when the Forest Department team arrived at the site to check the trap set for capturing the tiger, they were surrounded by local villagers, including Khushal Singh Patwal, Manoj Joshi, Nandi (wife of Prem Singh), Dan Singh Bhandari, and others. These individuals verbally abused and physically assaulted Forest Ranger Jaswant Singh. The assault was recorded on video by the perpetrators and subsequently went viral on social media.
Following the incident, there is a sense of fear among the forest staff. Due to the unruly behavior of these individuals, who were reportedly intoxicated, the forest staff has been facing difficulties in performing their duties in the affected area at night. Based on the complaint filed by the Forest Department, the police have started an investigation into the matter.
