Poonch: The employees of the Forest Department on Monday staged a protest demonstration after some members came under stone pelting while performing official duty in the district.
Also range officer of forest Mendhar wrote a letter to concerned SHO, seeking FIR against the offenders.
“This is to bring in your kind notice, that in connection with the Damage Case No. 10/2022-23, the Tehsildar Mendhar as per the directions of worthy SDM Mendhar constituted the commission to demarcate the forest Khasra No. 95 of village Salani,” reads the letter, adding, “In compliance to that order u/signed (Range Officer) alongwith Naib Tehsildar Mankote AEE PWD (Raman Baghat) visited the spot to demarcate the said land and report within week time.”
He said he along with the team of forest officials and FPF personnel with Naib Tehsildar concerned and others reached the Co. NO. 190/M beat Salani along road side and all of sudden the inhabitants of village Salani appeared and started pelting stone on forest staff “only and manhandling some of the officials while performing legitimate Government duty”. “It is pertinent to mention here that, the contractor’s son was also seen in the mob by the staff whose Pokland machine has already been seized in above Damage Case No. 10/2022, who in turn violated the seizure U/Section 26, 52, 69 of Indian Forest Act and operator till date not arrested,” he said, adding, “As such, it is requested that kindly lodge an FIR against the offenders under the relevant section of Law and intimate to this office.” (GNS)