Punjab forest dept to give weapons to its staff

The state govt will provide financial assistance of ₹50,000 each to the two critically hurt and ₹21,000 each to the other injured

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab forest department has decided to arm its staff after six officers were allegedly attacked by sand mining mafia on Monday. “We have decided to provide weapons to our staff,” said forest minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot here on Wednesday.

› We have decided to provide weapons to our staff because it is impossible to guard without weapons. Those behind the Seonk village (in Mohali) incident won’t be spared.

SADHU SINGH DHARAMSOT , forest minister

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR: The Punjab forest department has decided to arm its staff after six officers were allegedly attacked by sand mining mafia on Monday.

“We have decided to provide weapons to our staff because it is impossible to guard without weapons. Those behind the Seonk village (in Mohali) incident won’t be spared,” forest minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot told reporters here on Wednesday.

The minister said four men have been arrested for the attack. The officers were attacked by five to seven assailants with sticks and sharpedged weapons on Monday night when they intercepted a tractor-trailer. Block forest range officer Devinder Singh and forest guard Karnail Singh were admitted to PGIMER hospital. Devinder Singh’s condition was stated to be “very critical”. He suffered multiple skull fractures, doctors said. The four others escaped with minor injuries.

The minister said a proposal to provide arms to the forest department staff will be put before the state cabinet. Dharamsot said the state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each to the two critically injured and Rs 21,000 each to the other four. The department will also honour them with bravery awards and two additional increments.