Mysuru: A day after two forest personnel drowned in the Kabini backwaters, after the coracle in which they were patrolling, capsized at Gundre forest range in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, forest minister Anand Singh rushed to the accident site on Sunday.
He told reporters that there are complaints against senior officials, that they pressurised the personnel to use the coracle to stop illegal fishing.
“The tribals from the region have expressed suspicion over the death of the forest personnel. The matter will be probed, as we have to ensure justice for the people of the region and their family members,” he said.
He stated that the government will give ex gratia to the families of the deceased.
Singh visited the spot where the coracle capsized in HD Kote taluk, and collected details about the accident from senior officials, and also interacted with the field staff. The minister also spoke to forest guard Mahadev and watcher Bomma, who survived the accident. He travelled in a forest department boat, in the backwaters, to inspect the place where fish is caught illegally.
HD Kote MLA Anil Chikkamadhu, principal chief conservator of forests Punati Sridhar and Bandipur Tiger Reserve director T Balachandra were present.
Forest watcher’s body retrieved
Foresters managed to retrieve the body of forest watcher Shivakumar, from the backwaters, on Sunday morning.
During an operation on Friday night, to catch miscreants involved in illegal fishing, a coracle carrying four forest personnel had capsized in the backwaters. Forest guard Mahadev and watcher Bomma were rescued, while guest house caretaker Mahesh and watcher Shivakumar drowned. The foresters had managed to retrieve the body of Mahesh on Saturday.
He told reporters that there are complaints against senior officials, that they pressurised the personnel to use the coracle to stop illegal fishing.
“The tribals from the region have expressed suspicion over the death of the forest personnel. The matter will be probed, as we have to ensure justice for the people of the region and their family members,” he said.
He stated that the government will give ex gratia to the families of the deceased.
Singh visited the spot where the coracle capsized in HD Kote taluk, and collected details about the accident from senior officials, and also interacted with the field staff. The minister also spoke to forest guard Mahadev and watcher Bomma, who survived the accident. He travelled in a forest department boat, in the backwaters, to inspect the place where fish is caught illegally.
HD Kote MLA Anil Chikkamadhu, principal chief conservator of forests Punati Sridhar and Bandipur Tiger Reserve director T Balachandra were present.
Forest watcher’s body retrieved
Foresters managed to retrieve the body of forest watcher Shivakumar, from the backwaters, on Sunday morning.
During an operation on Friday night, to catch miscreants involved in illegal fishing, a coracle carrying four forest personnel had capsized in the backwaters. Forest guard Mahadev and watcher Bomma were rescued, while guest house caretaker Mahesh and watcher Shivakumar drowned. The foresters had managed to retrieve the body of Mahesh on Saturday.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
City
Delhi lockdown: People flout social distancing norms in Chandni Chowk ahead of Ramzan 
How a crocodile was rescued in Telangana 
'Stay at home' message passed on by canine squad of bomb detection and disposal unit of Nagpur Police 
Covid-19 crisis: Empty wallets, stomachs and promises, workers in a fix in Chennai
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Quick Links
Kerala Coronavirus Helpline NumberHaryana Coronavirus Helpline NumberUP Coronavirus Helpline NumberBareilly NewsBhopal NewsCoronavirus in DelhiCoronavirus in HyderabadCoronavirus in IndiaCoronavirus symptomsCoronavirusRajasthan Coronavirus Helpline NumberAditya ThackerayShiv SenaFire in MumbaiAP Coronavirus Helpline NumberArvind KejriwalJammu Kashmir Coronavirus Helpline NumberSrinagar encounter
Get the app