IT News
Thoubal, Dec 4:
The District Forest Officer Thoubal has strongly condemn the incidence of threatening Forest field staffs on duty by firing gun shots on November 29 near Chanam Sandrok area at Compartment no.8 Yairipok Block of the Waithou Protected Forest was unfortunate and is against the established laws.
A statement by Debala Leiphrakpam, DFO, Thoubal said that the Forest Staff on receiving Specific information of felling of pine trees, went to the area in the evening of the 28th November, 2020 to take stock of the Situation as per procedure laid down under law, Noticing that machineries and Labourers would be required, the forest field staffs came back to collect the illegally fallen pine logs the next morning. On November 29 morning, as the forest staffs were preparing to lift the logs, some miscreants approached them and open fired arms and threatened the staffs on duty of dire consequences if they ever try to lift the logs. Being helpless, the staffs approached the Irilbung Police Station and filed an FIR against the miscreants. A Forest Offense was also registered at the office of the Range Forest Officer, Thoubal Range against the act of felling of pine trees.
The Waithou Protected Forest was notified as a Protected Forests under Section 29 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 vide Notification No. 55/10/65-66 M(2) dated 1st June 1966 of the Government of Manipur and published in Manipur Gazette No. 42. E33 dated 3rd June 1966. As per Para (a) of the said notification and also as per Chapter-V, Rule No. 22 of the Manipur Forest Rules 1971, the Government of Manipur had reserved pine trees in Protected Forests areas of Manipur under Section 30 of the Act. This would connote that no individual can fell any pine tree in Protected forests areas without permission from the Divisional Forest Officer having jurisdiction over the Protected Forests. In the event of violation of the above provision, the offender is punishable under Section 33 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
If any individual, NGO (s) or any organization(s) has any grievances with any forest law presently put in force by the Forest Department, Government of
Manipur, the relevant public Offices under the State Government should have been approached to settle the impending issue. It is unfortunate that the miscreants had used their license arms to open fire and took law in their hands by threatening the uniformed staffs and stopping them from performing their mandated duty. It is expected that such illegal act of taking law in their hand and disrespecting Government establishments may not be repeated in future. It is, therefore, appealed that individuals or NGOs involved in the instant incidence should restrained themselves from spreading dubious and unauthenticated charges against a Government Department through media and subjecting confusions the general public to meet their vested interests.
