Miscreants in Chamgund area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district thrashed and wounded several forest employees when they questioned their conduct of throwing garbage and other solid waste into the forest land.
The forest employees said that few locals at Chamgund were piling garbage into the forest land and they were time and again warned against such an act.
Syed Wasim Divisional Forest officer (DFO) Kulgam told Rising Kashmir that their employees were on duty when they were attacked by miscreants who were dumping the garbage inside forest land thereby polluting the environment.
“The employees in Chamgund block were on night patrolling when some persons came with dead animal carcasses and solid waste aiming to dump it in forests. Our employees showed resentment towards them and during the scuffle, they assaulted our three employees including multi-tasking staff,” he said.
The DFO said that the forest area is close to habitation and dumping animal waste or garbage will attract wild animals which may cause man-animal conflict.
After the incident, Irfan Ali Shah, the Conservator of Forest, Kashmir South Circle visited the injured employees’ home and inquired about their well-being.
Irfan along with DFO Kulgam paid a visit to the home of injured forest officials who were brutally assaulted by forest damagers in Chamgund Forests during night patrolling.
“Directions have been given for providing the best health care and immediate benevolent fund relief to the injured employees. An FIR has been lodged against culprits,” Irfan said.
FIR number 58/2022 has been registered at Police station Devsar under sections 332 and 427, confirmed a police official.
