MARTYRS TO THE CAUSE
'Three forest personnel laid down their lives on duty'
"Foresters are reluctant to work in areas where extremist groups
operate."
WWF's Tiger Conservation Programme salutes the three guardians of the forests who laid down their lives while on duty at Palamau TR, Bihar, and Simlipal TR, Orissa.While Sukhdeo Parahiya, 36, an excellent tracker of Palamau and Aziz Quraishi, 32, one of the best drivers of the same Park, lost their lives in a landmine explosion at Terhwa Nala of Chungroo village in
Palamau TR while patrolling the forests in February, the body of Srikant Sethi, a dedicated forester of Simlipal TR who had seized illegal arms inside the Reserve, was found in a pit. His throat had been cut open with an axe.
Dedicated forest workers are being threatened and even killed. Demoralised, foresters are reluctant to work in areas where extremist groups operate.While Sukhdeo Parahiya had honed his skills in tracking down tigers and had extraordinary knowledge about the king of the jungles, driver Aziz had developed expertise in collecting information about timber and "Katha" smugglers. The vehicle in which they were travelling was blown to pieces.
Since both were daily wage workers they were not entitled to any compensation from the government. They leave behind six and five children respectively. Sukhdeo's wife had died of snake bite barely eight months ago.Based on an appeal put out by the Divisional Forest Officer of Daltonganj South Division S.E.H Kazmi, The TCP has sent a cheque of Rs 30,000 for rehabilitation of their families and the Wildlife Protection Society of India Rs. 20,000. Mr Kazmi and his colleagues and friends are also rallying around to assist the families.