Officials seek protection following assault on forest official

In the aftermath of assault on a forest department official at the State-level expert committee meeting on Friday, the officials of Power Grid Corporation of India, have sought protection from Deputy Commissioner, it is learnt. 

In a memorandum submitted to the deputy commissioner on Saturday, a senior official of Power Gird Corporation of India, has reportedly requested to provide police protection at the places of survey works being carried out towards the high tension line in the southern part of Kodagu.

During a review meet held in the presence of state level experts committee in Fort Hall regarding the implementation of Kasturirangan report on Friday, Deputy Conservator of Forest Shivshankar was assaulted by some people.

The people got enraged after they found the official laughing during serious discussions. A senior official expressed his concern over lack of protection to government officials. 

The officials only execute the laws framed by elected representatives. If the laws are detrimental to people, then, the discussion should be taken up at the assembly or parliament to scrap the same.

The official should not be held responsible, he said. Let the court decide on the reason for the laugh of the forest official, the statement of MLA K G Bopaih and Zilla Panchayat President Shareen Subbaih’s complaint.

The video recording of the meet has been made and decision should be taken after examining the video footage. But, the people’s act of assaulting a government official at a public meeting where the police officials and Deputy Commissioner were present, is ridiculous, he said.

The spouse of a senior official, who was working towards the high tension line survey, received a threatening call few months earlier. A police compliant has also been filed in this regard. The official got himself transferred later, he said. Also, as there are lot of confusions regarding revenue and forest land in district, many officials deny to come to the district.

DC responds

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tewari said that the assault on a government official was unfortunate. An order has been passed to carry out complete investigation on the issue. The official will be provided suitable protection. 

There is no need for the government officials to panic. The state level senior officials have been informed of the incident and subsequently a direction has been received from their side to initiate action. The matter has also been subject to discussion at the cabinet meeting in Kalburgi, he said.