Nagpur: On Friday, tourists visiting Bor Tiger Reserve were disappointed as the staff and guides boycotted tourism activity, as the culprits involved in an attack on a range forest officer (RFO) and forest guard were yet to be arrested. However, tourism activity is likely to resume from Saturday as two accused — Swapnil Talwekar and Mangesh Ramteke — both from Selu, were arrested on Friday evening by Selu police.
Police inspector Prashant Kale said, “We had received information that the accused were hiding in Nagpur. We were tracking them and the team was successful in nabbing both. Hunt for the main accused Thakur and others is still going on.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Mahesh Thakur, a history-sheeter and MCOCA accused from Wardha, along with five others, had attacked RFO Nilesh Gawande and forest guard Premdas Bhakre after they refused them entry inside the park in private vehicles.
Selu police had registered offences against the miscreants but even 48 hours later the accused were absconding. Protesting the incident, over 40 forest staff and 30 guides boycotted tourism activity and warned that there will be no tourism till the culprits are arrested. The forest staff and guides staged a peaceful dharna in front of the Bor office on Friday.
“The attack on foresters was without any provocation and sudden. Tomorrow, we may also be the target, and the safety of staff is important. At least 10 vehicles were returned on Friday,” said Kailash Bhavre, president, Maharashtra State Sanctuary Guides Union, Bor unit.
“Most of the tourists visit Bor on Saturdays and Sundays but we have told those aspiring to come not to visit the park as it will remain closed,” said a section of guides.
On Friday, the Forest Rangers Association Maharashtra has submitted a memorandum to principal secretary (forests) Milind Mhaiskar demanding protection to forest staff. “Even as the matter is being fought in the Supreme Court, there is no let-up in attacks on foresters,” said KV Bolke, president of the association.