FOREST DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES TO GET WEAPONS: DHARAMSOT

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 20: “The Forest Department, Punjab, would arm its employees with weapons for the security of forest areas and sooner, a policy in this regard would be prepared and sent to the cabinet for approval.”

Reiterating this today, the Forest Minister, Punjab, Mr. Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said that the incident which happened at village seonk is quite unfortunate and the perpetrators would not be spared. He also said that the attacks by the sand mafia on the forest department employees are being taken with utmost seriousness and in future the departmental employees would be provided weapons. Instructing the officials of the department to prepare a policy in this regard, he said that the state government is fully committed to the safety of the employees of the department and is taking every necessary step in this direction.

The minister further added that the grievously injured in seonk incident would get Rs. 50,000 each and those with lesser injuries would be provided with financial assistance worth Rs. 21,000 each besides getting the injured treated at government expense. He also said that these employees performing their duty with dedication would get 2 increments each apart from the gallantry awards.

Mr. Dharamsot said that the Block Officer of the department Mr. Devinder Singh, Forest Guard Mr. Ravinder Singh, Beldar Mr. Karnail Singh, Beldar Mr. Rajinder Singh, Dailywager Mr. Bhag Chand and Mr. Mohinder Singh were attacked in village seonk-shingariwala falling in S.A.S. Nagar on 19th June, 2018 at 10:30 PM during a naka. An FIR was registered at police station mullanpur garibdass, District S.A.S. Nagar u/s 307,353,186,332,148,149 of the IPC.

Divulging more, the minister said that on the statement of forest guard the Punjab Police has arrested Satpreet Singh Satti S/o Balwinder Singh, Satwinder Singh Happy S/o Surinder Singh, Jagjit Singh alias Jagga S/o Sohan Singh and Inderjit Singh alias Inda S/o Jaswant Singh. The tractor-trolley and an i-20 car used in the crime has also been recovered and further interrogation of the arrested persons is on.

The minister also elaborated that Block Officer Mr. Devinder Singh and Beldar Mr. Karnail Singh are undergoing treatment at the trauma centre of PGI in Chandigarh whereas the condition of Devinder Singh is stated to be serious with serious head injuries. He has been kept under 72 hours observation after being operated upon while Karnail Singh has skull fracture with injuries to the right side of his face with sharp edged weapons.

Mr. Dharamsot also assured that the process is on to ensure strict punishment for the persons responsible for this horrendous incident. He said that the government led by the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh has initiated a campaign against the sand and the wood mafia and this campaign would be carried on with full earnestness.

On the occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Forests Mr. M.P. Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Jatinder Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Ratna Kmar, Conservator Shiwalik Mr. Churchill Kumar and DFO (S.A.S. Nagar) Mr. Guraman Singh were also present.