No FIR month after officers acting against Chhath pond construction ‘attacked by mob’: Forest dept

The Delhi Police did not comment on the matter when contacted by The Indian Express.

According to the complaint submitted by the Range Forest Officer of the Asola Bhatti Range, a group of people allegedly assaulted the department’s staff when they intervened to prevent the encroachment on forest land during preparations for Chhath Puja on October 14.

The letter to the Station House Officer of Sangam Vihar police station requested registration of an FIR under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for offences including “obstruction, misbehaviour, deadly assault and intimidation of a public servant on duty.”

The complaint also mentioned that the officials were threatened with an axe and other “sharp weapons”, and one forest guard sustained

serious injuries while his uniform was torn in the alleged mob attack.

The department stated that a police team reached the location, which helped the forest officials to avoid further harm.

“During regular patrolling…the beat officer concerned  in Tughlakabad observed that some illegal construction was undertaken by local residents of Sangam Vihar… it was found that a Chhath ghat was being constructed…on the directions of MLA Chandan Choudhary,” the complaint mentioned.

When contacted, Sangam Vihar MLA  and BJP leader Chandan Choudhary said the matter had been resolved the same day and described it as a “misunderstanding”.  “Chhath Puja has been organised at this site for about 20 years. The land belongs to the DDA, and they have given an NOC for such festivities. It was a small confusion that was cleared that day itself,” he said.

Choudhary added that the police officers enquired about the incident and that the issue had been resolved.

Forest officials, however, maintained that the land where the incident occurred falls within a notified forest area. “Once a preliminary notification under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act has been issued, the ownership of the land is immaterial…it is classified as forest, and the department is responsible for its protection. Even if someone disputes that, it does not give anyone the right to threaten or assault an on-duty government officer,” an official said.

A report of the incident by the department states that it occurred “at khasras no. 1621 in village Tughlakabad, which is a proposed reserve forest land under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927…”

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