PTR’s tiger tracker beaten up by ruffians

| | DALTONGANJ | in Ranchi

A tiger tracker Vikas Prasad was assaulted by a group of six youths at Sugga Bandh patrol chowki under Bareysarn range of the South division of Palamu Tiger Reserve late in the afternoon of August 16 about 90 Kms away from Daltonganj.

Deputy Director South division of PTR M K Mahaling said the six youths came on two bikes when this tiger tracker and one more tracker were having their lunch at the base of this patrol chowki  and these six insisted on going on the top floor of this chowki (read watch tower) which was objected to by the tiger tracker and soon a scuffle broke out in which one among the 6 hit hard on the head of Vikas Prasad who started bleeding.

The 6 then sped away with the bike on which they had so come.

The injured was rushed to Garu community health centre where he was given stitches and saline drip.  Mahaling said the tiger tracker would be well taken care of and if doctor suggested CT scan that too would be done and PTR would meet this medical bill of the tiger tracker.

PTR has in all 92 watch towers which double up as patrol chowki. Dubious elements want to go upstairs on these towers either to take selfie atop amidst the jungle or to have fast booze there.

The watch towers are now a sight to see in jungle. The Maoists contend that it will help security forces to oversee them in the jungle while on the other hand security forces blame PTR officials that Maoists will be using these towers to watch their movement in the jungles.

Range officer of Kutku range A Kumar had said, “We are sandwiched over these towers. Maoists and security forces eye us with suspicion but the fact is that these towers are only meant for wild life, anti poaching, noticing of any outbreak of forest fire, control of felling of trees by timber mafia, control of plucking of kendu leaves and mahua seeds alongwith any illicit mining of boulders and sand grains from the soil of the PTR etc.”

Officer Incharge of Bareysarn police station Vinay Mahto said, “Police have come to know of this assault of a tiger tracker of PTR. Today I am out in operation against Maoists. Once Vikas Prasad’s complaint reaches our police station we will start action. The 6 who did this offence would not be spared at all.”