Law maker breaks law: MLA and his armed escort overpowered and snatch seized machineries from Forest Dept. staffs

IT News

Imphal, June 23,

An MLA overpowered Forest department officials using his armed security escorts and hijacked seized machineries which were caught red handed while excavating and cutting trees at a hill range in Thoubal district.

Source said, MLA of Khangabok Assembly Constituency Okram Surjakumar along with his armed security escort and some supporter halted the staffs of Thoubal Forest Division at Khangabok Lamlong area today morning while they were on their way to Forest Range Office along with the seized excavator (JCB) and a truck. The MLA and his supporters then snatch and took away those seized Machineries from the Forest department staffs 

The Thoubal Forest Division, Forest Department, Government of Manipur, along with NGOs and other civil organisations, have been trying to save the hill Range at Tentha and other adjoining areas by stopping illegal excavation and clear felling of trees. This endeavour of Forest Department, NGOs and other civil bodies is also in compliance with the various orders passed by the High Court of Manipur in PIL No 25 of 2017.

The excavator (JCB) and the trucks were caught by the forest staffs who were not armed while excavating the said protected Hill Range at Tentha Thambal Chingya in Thoubal district.

The unarmed Forest Guards and officials of the Department were left in a state of helplessness, a report reaching here said.

It is unfortunate that the MLA of Khangabok Assembly Constituency, who is a lawmaker, instead of behaving as a responsible public leader, has defied the law of the land and also disrespected the rulings of the High Court of Manipur. 

“Such irresponsible Act of taking law in hand by a public leader in front of the general public is highly condemnable and unbecoming of a public leader. Such act will only discourage the forest field functionaries in their endeavour to conserve, protect the forest wealth of the State and contribute to the changing ecological balances”, an Official of the Forest department said while taking to Imphal Times