The mysterious death of a forest guard in Mandi district has assumed political overtones with former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Wednesday demanding a CBI probe into the incident.
Expressing doubt on the constitution of four member administrative panel under Additional Principal Chief Conservator, Hari Singh Dogra, Dhumal quipped, “how could the officers of the department investigate the matter, when there were apprehensions of collusion of departmental people with the criminalsIJ”
Addressing a news conference in Shimla, Dhumal said the State Government was trying to undermine the gravity of the case. The forest mafia in State had become a serious threat and death of a forest guard should not be taken as a normal crime, Dhumal added.
Rubbishing Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri’s claim of CBI being a tool in the hands of Central Government, Dhumal said the departmental probe ordered by Bharmouri was a sham.
Dhumal said BJP was not satisfied with departmental probe and Government should order a CBI probe to ascertain the role of Forest Mafia as the body was found hanged to the trunk and the initial evidence suggest foul play in the death of the forest guard.
Dhumal, who campaigned in the Shimla Municipal Corporation polls on the last day, said that Congress’ shying away from MC polls was a proof of the failures of the government, as the ruling party tried its best to push away the elections. Assuring people of the city that clean drinking water would be provided, Dhumal said BJP would bring Rs 1000 crore water lifting scheme from Satluj and clean drinking water would be assured for the city.
Criticizing Congress and CPM for the failure of Shimla to find a place in the Smart City project, he said water, power and parking are still the major problems of the city and BJP, after gaining reins of the MC, would take these issues on priority.