Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 28 JAN: Two forest employees were critically injured after a group of wood smugglers who were axing the trees inside Bahadurpur forest under Palashgachi beat office in Santipur, attacked a patrolling team of forest department at around 11 pm last night.
The victims named Uttam Garai and Ashim Ganguly were later rescued by the Santipur police who admitted them into the Santipur hospital in the night. Uttam was discharged by the hospital after receiving first aid while Ashim was referred to the Saktinagar district hospital.
On the basis of the complaint, the police, however, arrested two persons today.
When asked, Garai said, “At around 11 pm, while patrolling near the beat office inside the forest, we heard voices like somebody is talking. After hearing the voices, we went to check towards the jungle. In the light of the torch, we saw that many people were axing trees. All of a sudden, some of them came out from nearby bushes and attacked me with an iron rod and sharp edge weapon from behind. They also attacked my colleague. Later, they disappeared in the dark. The beat officer called the Santipur police who then reached the site and rescued us.”
Pradip Bauri, divisional forest officer (Nadia-Murshidabad) said, “It was a very unfortunate incident. Our forest staff who were patrolling inside the forest in the late night were attacked by a group of 20 to 25 wood smugglers. Today, we lodged a FIR against some persons with the Santipur police and they have arrested two persons so far.”
Mr Bauri, who also visited the site and talked with the victims and beat officer, said, “We have limited staff in this remote forest area. But, our staff have made a brave effort to protect the forest against armed smugglers.”
Tags: #WoodSmugglers #Palashgachi #DFO #Nadia
Pics: HBN
