FIR against municipal board EO ** CM directs for probe
HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 26: An FIR was lodged against Tangla Municipal Board executive officer (EO) Shantanu Das for his alleged role in the felling of bamboo trees which led to the killing of scores of Egrets at Jalukbari area under ward No.1 of Tangla in Udalguri district on Friday.
An official statement here informed that the state Environment and Forest department has lodged the FIR against Das after divisional forest officer (DFO) of Dhansiri Forest Division, NK Bordoloi found that the EO had served notices on June 8 to five residents of ward No 1 and 2 to clear the bamboo groves nesting the Egrets and their fledglings as the “droppings of birds were creating an unhygienic environment which may increase the risk of Covid-19 infection in the area”.
“The forest authorities have filed an FIR against the executive officer of the municipal board, Das, for the unfortunate incident at the Tangla Police Station. Also a case will be filed against Das under Section 55 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in the court of the chief judicial magistrate of Udalguri,” the statement said.
Scores of birds were killed when the bamboo grove was felled by the municipal workers which prompted chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to direct the Forest department to conduct an inquiry into the incident of killing of Egrets.
State Environment and Forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya had directed principal chief conservator of forest (Wildlife) Amit Sahai to probe into the incident and submit a report immediately.
Bordoloi informed that 88 Egret fledglings have been rescued and sent to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at Kaziranga.
Egrets are listed under Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The local forest authorities are planning to hold awareness meetings with leading citizens, NGOs and government officials on the need to protect wildlife.
HT scribe manhandled
The Udalguri correspondent of ‘The Hills Times’, Shajid Khan, was allegedly assaulted in Tangla town by supporters of Tangla Municipal Board chairman Dilip Boro, who is also a Member of Council Legislative Assembly (MCLA) of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
“Goons of Tangla Municipal Board chairman cum Khalingduar MCLA and #UPPL leader, Dilip Boro attacked me at the site of death of nearly 250 Egrets in Tangla town of Udalguri district,” Khan said narrating the incident on Twitter.
Khan had gone to the area on learning that the PCCF (Wildlife) and the executive member (EM) for forest of BTC, were visiting the parts where the bamboo plants were felled.
Khan said that when he reached the area the PCCF and the EM had already left the area and he was confronted by some supporters of Boro.
“These people blamed me for breaking the news of the cutting of the trees and alleged that I was acting with ulterior motives. They started shoving and pushing me. Someone tried to snatch my mobile phone and gold chain from my neck,” Khan said.
The officer in-charge of Tangla police station, who was present at the spot, along with some local women, took him and his associate to safety, Khan claimed.
Reacting to Khan’s tweet, special director general of police GP Singh sought details on the case from the local police, while the Assam Police’s official Twitter handle also informed that the incident was being looked into.
Khan, however, did not file any police complaint and later Tweeted again: “I am safe and sound, and have not lodged any complaint regarding the incident and the matter has been resolved amicably. Thank you everyone for your kind support.”