City

Odisha Minister Sudam Marndi Gheraoed By Locals Over Forester Killing In Similipal

By
OB Bureau

Baripada: Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Sudam Marndi faced public anger when he visited Mayurbhanj on Sunday for the cremation of forester Mati Hansda, who was shot dead by poachers in Similipal sanctuary.

Sources said several locals of Jashipur in the district including a forest guard confronted Marndi, who hails from Mayurbhanj district, and alleged that the state government was apathetic towards forest department employees.

As a result, forest department employees are being killed by poachers in Similipal, they claimed. The locals also accused a senior forest official of mentally harassing the employees.

The forest department staff are being targeted by poachers because of the attitude of senior officials, they said, adding that though the government claims that it supports the employees of the forest department, the ground reality is different.

The Minister tried to pacify the agitated locals and assured them that the government has taken the issue seriously. “I have come to meet the aggrieved family and my sympathies are with them. I have spoken with the RCCF. The government has taken the incident seriously,” he said.

He said he will look into the allegation of mental harassment of forest staff by a senior official and appropriate steps will be taken based on the findings.

Notably, a forester, Mati Hansda was shot dead by poachers while patrolling at Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district. Earlier two forest department officials were killed in the past two months. A 35-year-old forest guard was shot dead by a group of poachers last month.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Soon After Parliament’s Winter Session Begins, Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Opposition’s Ruckus Over Adani Issue

New Delhi: The Winter Session of Parliament commenced on Monday (Nov 25). But both houses…

November 25, 2024

Bangladeshi Girl ‘Trafficking’ Case In Odisha: Couple Arrested For Forcing Her Into Prostitution

Cuttack: After rescuing a minor Bangladeshi girl, Madhupatna Police in Odisha’s Cuttack city have arrested…

November 25, 2024

2nd Maharashtra Tigress Zeenat Released Into Core Area Of Similipal In Odisha

Baripada: Ten days after being put in a soft enclosure inside Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)…

November 25, 2024

Odisha GDP Suspends Jonk Police Station IIC For Dereliction Of Duty

Nuapada: Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of Jonk police station in Odisha’s Nuapada district, Gurudev Karmi, has…

November 25, 2024

IPL Auction: KKR Break Bank For Venkatesh On Lucrative Day For Indian Players; Check Top Buys

Mumbai: The first day of the IPL mega player auction at Jeddah threw up several…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Govt Hands Over Case Of Attack On Dharmasala MLA To Crime Branch

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has handed over the investigation into the attack on Dhramasala MLA…

November 24, 2024

Commissionerate Police Issues Traffic Advisory During Winter Session Of Odisha Assembly; Details Here

Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate of Police on Sunday issued an advisory for movement of vehicular traffic…

November 24, 2024

Elon Musk Proposal: Fire US Federal Employees Who Want To Work From Home

New York: Now that President-elect Donald Trump has tasked Elon Musk with the responsibility of co-heading…

November 24, 2024