The State Forest Department has lodged a first information report with the police regarding intentional burning of the forest at the Manora forest range in Nainital.
According to information, deputy ranger Anand lal Arya submitted a complaint at Kathgodam police station stating that on Saturday evening at about 5:30 pm, forest personnel on patrol 500 metres above Ranibagh came across six youths consuming alcohol who were asked to leave the forest. The youths reacted by beating forest personnel Nitin Sah and Munna Bisht, causing injury to both.
The complaint further states that the youths managed to flee the site on three motorcycles, one of which carried a license plate number UK 04-5223.
The police informed that the identity of the owner of the said motorcycle was being ascertained from the regional transport office on Monday after which the person will be summoned.
Apart from this, on the basis of complaint lodged by the ranger of Baijnath range in Bageshwar, Shyam Singh, a lady Vimala Devi was caught allegedly setting fire to the forest. She was released on a personal bond of `25,000.