Threatening forest staff on duty is against law: DFO Thoubal
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, December 05 2020: Debala Laiphrakpam, DFO Thoubal, in a statement, has stated that 'threatening' forest staffers on duty by firing bullets on November 29 last near Chanam Sandrok under Waithoii Protected Forest was unfortunate and is against the established laws.

The DFO continued that the forest staff, on receiving information of felling pine trees, went to the area in the evening of November 28 last to take stock of the situation.

Noticing that machinery and labourers would be required, the forest field staff came back to collect the 'illegally' fallen pine logs the next morning, she said and added that on November 29, as the forest staffs were preparing to lift the logs, some miscreants approached them and open fired arms and threatened the staff on duty.

Being helpless, the staff approached the lrilbung Police Station and filed an FIR against the miscreants.

A Forest Offense was also registered at the office of the Range Forest Officer, Thoubal Range against the felling of pine trees, Debala added.

She also stated that the Waithou Forest was notified as a Protected Forests under Section 29 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 .

Felling of pine trees in Protected forest areas without the.

permission from the Divisional Forest Officers concerned is against the law and punishable under Section 33 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the DFO added.

Debal further stated that relevant offices should be approached if any individual (sO, NGO (s) or organization (s) has any grievances with the Forest law presently put in force by the Forest Department, Government of Manipur.

Asserting that using license arms to threaten forest staff is very unfortunate, the DFO appealed to all concerned to restrain from spreading dubious and unauthenticated charges against a Government Department.

Meanwhile, pertaining to the alleged gun attack meted out to the forest staff at Chanam Sandrok on November 29 last, a meeting was convened today at Thoubal Forest Division.

The meeting was attended by the staffers of Kakching and Thoubal Range.

Staffers of the 8 Beat Offices under the two ranges also took part in the meeting.

The meeting resolved to stage a sit-in protest on December 7 that demands arrest of the miscreants who threatened the forest staff.

Using a license gun to intimidate forest staff is uncalled for, said one of the attendees.

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