Forest squad attacked at Kolgaon Thadi in Kopargaon; seized sand tractor taken back

Kopargaon: A mobile squad of the forest department that had gone to stop sand being smuggled out of reserved forest land along the Godavari riverbed at Kolgaon Thadi in Kopargaon taluka was attacked at about 1 am on October 9. The squad's government vehicle was smashed with weapons and a tractor it had seized was taken away by force, according to the complaint.

Acting on a written complaint received online and on orders from senior officers, the squad from Ahilyanagar reached forest compartment 243 at Kolgaon Thadi at about 11.30 pm on October 8. Finding that sand was being stockpiled inside the reserved forest after entry from the riverbed and moved out illegally, it seized a tractor.

The suspects and unidentified associates then blocked the squad's path and attacked the staff with iron rods, wooden sticks and sickles, it is alleged. The staff were abused and threatened with death, and the tractor was driven off along with one brass of sand that belonged to the government. Anger over the seizure and a dispute between two groups are said to be behind the attack.

A range forest officer from the squad lodged the police complaint on the orders of Ahilyanagar's deputy conservator of forests, Dharmaveer Salvithal, and Dr Ajit Sajane, divisional forest officer of the vigilance squad in Nashik. A case has been registered against 14 named suspects and 35 to 40 unidentified people.

Inspector Sambhaji Gaikwad of the Kopargaon taluka police station and assistant inspector Dharamsingh Sundarde are investigating under the guidance of superintendent of police Mummaka Sudarshan and sub-divisional police officer Amol Bharti.

Source: Esakal