Tension ran high as hundreds of irate locals on Tuesday staged a demonstration before the Pampasara Range office following the death of a Forest Watcher after he was hit by a Ranger’s vehicle in the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district.
The deceased, identified as Sambit Das (23) of Gopalpur village, was on duty near Gopalpur when Tikarpada Ranger Maguni Behera’s vehicle hit him on Monday night.
However, none of the forest personnel came to the victim’s rescue or shift him to a hospital despite the vehicle belonging to the department, villagers alleged. He was admitted to a hospital after a delay of three hours and doctors declared him dead.
Due to the agitation, vehicular movement of tourists to the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary was hit. The Purunakot and Bantala PS IICs rushed to the spot and pacified the villagers by assuring immediate necessary action.