Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division Bikash Ranjan Dash has placed Forester Praffula Kumar Majhi under suspension for selling a part of seized fish catch for pecuniary benefit.
According to Dash, forest personnel of Gahirmath on November 29 had intercepted fishing vessel, "Laxmi Tarini-3” on the charges of trespassing into the prohibited zone of the sanctuary and catching fish illegally. Nine fishermen had been arrested and more than 16 quintals of fish catch, besides fishing equipment, had been seized.
But the forester Majhi showed the fish catch seized to be only 2 quintals. He had kept 14 quintals of seized fish catch with an ulterior motive to fill his pocket, alleged sources.
When the matter came to the notice of the DFO ,he immediately directed a departmental probe and the irregularity by Majhi was established.
Meanwhile, sources have questioned the role of the Range officer of Gahirmatha in the matter as he was the head of the team.
Without the Range officer's knowledge , the forester could not have taken such a step. So departmental action should be initiated against him, demanded the intellectual masses.
"An inquiry is on ,whoever will be found guilty, departmental action would be initiated," added DFO Dash.