Dudhwa stalemate continues as striking staff reject pact

The Dudhwa stalemate continued on Sunday with the striking staff rejecting an agreement reached between Kheri district magistrate Kinjal Singh and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) field director Sanjay Kumar Singh on late Saturday night.

The staff, who have been on the warpath for a fortnight demanding the DM’s transfer for allegedly visiting the Dudhwa National Park too often thus posing a threat to wildlife, said the pact had come too late. The DM had rejected the staff ’s charges earlier.

In a joint press statement, Ram Prasad, state president of the Prantiya Vanrakshak Sangh and office-bearers of the Federation of Forest Association, said, “The boycott of work would continue till the transfer of the Kheri DM and reinstatement of deputy director PP Singh and Dudhwa range officer RK Dixit.” The union leaders threatened to launch a massive agitation in Lucknow on March 9 if their demands were not met.

On Saturday evening, Kheri DM Kinjal Singh held a meeting with DTR field director Sanjay Kumar Singh. A press release issued by district authorities said the field director apprised the Kheri DM of resentment among Dudhwa staff following the seizure of Gypsies, alleged manhandling of a park gateman in Kishanpur sanctuary and a magisterial inquiry into the use of cartridges during firing in Dudhwa jungles by PRD men during an encounter. The press release said Kheri DM assured the FD that no unlawful action would be taken against anyone. On the issue of the gypsies, she asked the field director to obtain a fitness report of the vehicles and operate them as per norms.