After a wake-up call, Punjab Forest Department has decided to arm its employees with weapons for the security of forest areas. Besides, the Government will soon prepare a policy in this regard which would be tabled before the Cabinet for its approval.
The decision came a day after five forest officials were attacked by sand mafia in Majri Block of Mohali district when they stopped a sand-laden tractor-trolley at a checkpoint near Seonk village in Kharar on Monday night, leaving 48-year-old block forest officer Davinder Singh and his colleague critically injured.
Terming the incident as “unfortunate”, the State forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said the perpetrators would not be spared. “The attacks by the sand mafia on the forest department employees are being taken with utmost seriousness, and in future, the departmental employees would be provided weapons,” he said.
Instructing the Department officials to prepare a policy in this regard, he said that the State Government is fully committed to the safety of the employees and is taking every necessary step in this direction.
He added that the grievously injured in Seonk incident would get Rs50,000 each and those with lesser injuries would be provided with financial assistance worth Rs21,000 each besides getting the injured treated at Government expense.
He also said that these employees performing their duty with dedication would get two increments each, apart from the gallantry awards.
Dharamsot said that the department’s Block Officer Devinder Singh, Forest Guard Ravinder Singh, beldars Karnail Singh and Rajinder Singh, daily wager Bhag Chand and Mohinder Singh were attacked in Seonk-Shingariwala village in Mohali on June 19 at 10:30 pm during a naka. A case has been registered at Mullanpur Garibdass police station.
“On the statement of forest guard, the Punjab Police has arrested Satpreet Singh Satti, Satwinder Singh Happy, Jagjit Singh alias Jagga and Inderjit Singh alias Inda. The tractor-trolley and an i-20 used in the crime have also been recovered,” he said.
He said that the block officer Devinder Singh and Beldar Karnail Singh are undergoing treatment at the trauma centre of PGI in Chandigarh whereas the condition of Devinder Singh is stated to be serious.
“He has been kept under 72 hours observation after being operated upon while Karnail Singh has skull fracture with injuries to the right side of his face with sharp edged weapons,” said Dharamsot while assuring that the process is on to ensure strict punishment for the persons responsible for this horrendous incident.