CHANDIGARH: Punjab Government wakes up from it's slumber, now forest department officials will soon be given weapons for security of forest area. This step is being taken by the government after five forest officials were attacked by the sand mafia and among them 48-year old block forest officer, Davinder Singh and his colleague are stated to be critical as they were seriously injured in an attack by sand mafia at Majri block near Chandigarh on Monday night.
Davinder was among five forest officials attacked by sand mafia when they pted a sand-laden tractor-trolley at a checkpoint near Seonk village in Kharar on Monday night. "The Forest Department 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,'' said Punjab Forest Minister, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot.
He further said that the incident which happened at seonk village 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.
He 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 two increments each apart from the gallantry awards. Dharamsot said that the Block Officer of the department Devinder Singh, Forest Guard.
Ravinder Singh, Beldars Karnail Singh and Rajinder Singh, Dailywager Bhag Chand and Mohinder Singh were attacked in seonk-shingariwala village in Mohali on June 19 at 10:30 PM during a naka. A case has been registered at police station mullanpur garibdass under sections 307,353,186,332,148,149 of the IPC.
He said that on the statement of forest guard the Punjab Police has arrested Satpreet Singh Satti, Satwinder Singh Happy, Jagjit Singh alias Jagga and Inderjit Singh alias Inda. 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.
He said that Block Officer Devinder Singh and Beldar 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. Dharamsot also assured that the process is on to ensure strict punishment for the persons responsible for this horrendous incident.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the murderous attack on two forest officials in Mohali by the sand mafia, saying attacks of government officials as well as large scale illegal sand mining were continuing unabated because the Congress government was patronizing the mafia and also hand in glove with it.
He said the heinous attack on forest officials yesterday, who were trying to check illegal mining in Majri block in Mohali, proved that the State had descended into jungle raj. "The sand mafia has become so bold that it is ready to murder government officials coming in the way of its illegal operations".