Illegal miners kill Rajasthan forest guard,three arrested

A forest guard in Bundi district,Rajasthan,was battered to death late Wednesday night when he and his colleague had gone to raid an illegal mining site in a forest area. Shayar Singh,50,and forest outpost in-charge Virendra Singh had received a tip-off that illegal mining of sandstone was being carried out in Bapadu forest area.

They had gone there to investigate when they found over half a dozen men transporting sandstone from a mine. When the duo in plainclothes on a motorcycle tried to approach the miners,they attacked them. Shayar Singh was battered by the attackers and hit on the head. He died on the spot while Virendra managed to escape from there. Later he informed the police and senior forest department officials. A team was sent to the spot to nab the illegal miners.

Three persons have been arrested so far while two others,including a woman,are absconding. The accused have been charged with murder and a case has been lodged against Durga Shankar,Ram Swarup and Pappu Gurjjar,all residents of Gopalpura. The police are on the lookout for Ram Swarups wife and Mangilal Balai,both of whom were also involved in the incident.