Case lodged against four `violent’ RFOs

SURAT, Sept 20: The Waghai police in Dangs district has registered a case against four range officers who allegedly thrashed Manjibhai To...

SURAT, Sept 20: The Waghai police in Dangs district has registered a case against four range officers who allegedly thrashed Manjibhai Tomara of Ahirdi village. Tomara, who was picked up by forest officials on the night of September 17, was produced in the Vansda court on Saturday in a “semi-nude” condition.

A resident of Ahwa told Express Newsline that Tomara was picked up by four RFOs who “beat him up mercilessly.” He was taken to Maligam, Saputara and Hatgalar village on Maharashtra border before being produced in court. Tomara, who has been admitted to Ahwa Hospital, has named four RFOs in his FIR. The police will soon start investigations on the basis of the medical report, sources said.

While Dangs DFO Ram Kumar could not be contacted for his comment, Conservator of Forests (Surat Circle) S C Pant denied that forest officials had beaten up Tomara, who was reportedly involved in illegal cutting of trees. “There is no question of beating up. He was picked up for interrogation and subsequently produced in court,” he added.

However, social workers active in the Dangs claimed that a range forest officer not only thrashed Tomara but also threatened to “eliminate” him.Several Dangs-based political and social organisations have decided to stage a dharna on September 23 to protest against the forest officials’ alleged high-handedness. “We will submit a memorandum to the collector, the DSP and the the DFO demanding the suspension of the four RFOs. The dharna will continue unless the RFOs are suspended”, an NGO spokesman said.

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