Forest staff, contractor’s labourer assaulted by wood mafia; 1 hurt

A Forest Department employee and a contractor’s labourer were allegedly attacked by members of the khair wood mafia during night patrolling in Yamunanagar district. While Forester Mintu Kumar had a narrow escape, the labourer, Mehandi of Taharpur Kalan village, sustained head injuries.

On Mintu Kumar’s complaint, a case was registered against several persons at Chhachhrauli police station on August 25.

In his complaint, Mintu said on the night of August 23, he and Mehandi were patrolling in the Bustaur forest when they spotted six to seven men cutting illegally felled khair trees and loading the logs into an SUV. “I immediately informed Forest Guard Ankit Kumar. Before his arrival, some of the accused fled in the SUV. However, the remaining accused attacked us with sticks and sharp-edged weapons. In the attack, I had a narrow escape, but Mehandi sustained injuries on his head. He was rushed to Civil Hospital, Yamunanagar for treatment,” he told the police.

He further said when Forest Guard Ankit reached the spot, the remaining accused escaped in another SUV. Evidence of eight felled khair trees was found at the site. “As many as 10 logs of khair wood, a blade and an axe were recovered from the spot,” the forester said.