School and Mass Education Minister Sudam Marndi faced public ire when he visited Jashipur in Mayurbhanj district on Sunday for the cremation of Forester Mati Hansda, who was gunned down by poachers in the Similipal sanctuary.
Sources said locals and Forest Guards confronted Marandi and alleged that the State Government was apathetic towards the Forest Department employees’ interests, for which many of them are losing their lives.
The locals also accused a senior forest official of harassing the employees.
The forest staffs 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 department, the reality at ground level is different.
The Minister tried to pacify the agitated locals and assured them that the Government was aware of their problems. “I have come to meet the aggrieved family and my sympathies are with them,” he said.
He said he would look into the allegation of mental harassment of forest staffs by a senior official and appropriate steps would be taken.