Forest Staff On Strike: Police Mobilised For Patrolling In Odisha’s Similipal Reserve Forest

Baripada: With Forest officials on strike, police personnel have been deployed to conduct patrolling in Similipal reserve forest areas in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.

Speaking to media persons, Similipal RCCF Prakash Chand Gogineni said 30 police personnel have been deputed to carry out patrolling in 16 forest ranges covering critical sectors from Monday. Three more platoons of police will be deployed soon, he added.

“On my request for assistance in patrolling, Mayurbhanj SP has approved 30 police personnel from Jashipur and Udala police stations. Besides, three more platoons will be mobilised soon for patrolling in critical areas,” he said.

He further said around 600 forest protection assistants have abstained from patrolling as part of their agitation since Sunday. Even the Forest staff have joined the ceasework agitation.

“Now, only Rangers and ACFs are doing their duty in Similipal. We are taking steps to mobilise some Forest staff from other divisions. They along with the police personnel will jointly conduct the patrolling,” said Gogineni.

Similipal has 16 ranges in two divisions which require at least 600 personnel for active patrolling. The working Forest employees and the police will manage to look after the entire forest area, he added.

It may be mentioned that the members of the Odisha Non-Gazetted Forest Services Association launched the agitation demanding adequate security from them in the wake of the killing of forester Mati Hansda, who was shot dead by poachers in Karanjia of Mayurbhanj district on June 16.

They had informed the state government about the agitation stating that though they would come to the duty, they would not do the patrolling work in the forest. The announced to continue the symbolic protest till July 8. If the government fails to address their problems, they have threatened to intensify their agitation.