Over 8,000 forest employees, including guards, foresters and deputy rangers, on Monday launched a symbolic protest over the killing of two of their colleagues by the poachers in the past one month in the Similipal National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. As part of the protest, which is likely to be continued till July 8, the forest employees attended office but refrained from patrolling inside the forest areas. “Since two of our staffers died while patrolling inside the forest, we have decided not to patrol unless the state government listens to our demands. We will attend all other assigned duties like plantation and other works,” said Jagabandhu Patra, president of non-gazetted forest employees’ association. Patra said they have placed a 5-charter demand before the state government. Formation of special striking force with better arms and ammunition for protection of forest resources, formation of welfare fund, reorganisation of forest circles for better mobilisation of forest forces, revision of forest range, section and beats and provision of ex-gratia for forest employees dying on duty are the five demands placed by the forest employees before the government. “If government will not fulfil demands by July 8, all non-gazetted forest staff will go on mass leave & stage a demonstration in Bhubaneswar,” said Patra. On Friday night, forester Mathy Hansda, 45, was shot dead by the poachers inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) during a confrontation and exchange of fire during patrolling. On May 22, forest guard Bimal Kumar Jena, 40, posted at Baunsakhala beat under Pithabata range in the core area of Similipal sanctuary was also shot dead by the poachers. State School and Mass Education Minister Sudam Marndi, who hails from Mayurbhanj district, faced wrath of the forest employees and local people when he had gone to attend the cremation of Hansdah. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), wildlife, S K Popli, said they discussed the demands with the association members and told them that the state government has been examining their demands. Popli said they are making alternative arrangements for patrolling at present in different forest divisions. Odisha Forest & Environment Minister Pradip Amat said the state government has been taking steps for safety of the forest staff.
