Beat guard lashes out at top forest officials over 'illegal' bamboo cutting in Chhattisgarh

In what could be termed as a rare case, a beat guard hit out at top forest officials in connection with the 'illegal' cutting of bamboos at Katghora forest division in Chhattisgarh's Korba district. The beat guard also made a report against the Ranger, Deputy ranger and at least 11 labourers under the Forest Act.

Korba (Chhattisgarh): In a first of its kind, a Beat guard lashed out at senior forest officers when the former caught a Ranger officer and 11 labourers in connection with the 'illegal' cutting of bamboos at Katghora forest division in Chhattisgarh's Korba district.

Following this, Shekhar Ratre, the beat guard, made a report against the Ranger, Deputy ranger and labourers under the Forest Act.

Not only this, Ratre also reprimanded a senior officer, Mritunjay Singh, who tried to intervene.

Ratre can be heard saying, in a video which has been surfaced, "I don't care if you are a Ranger...How bamboos were cut in my absence? Are you a fool? You have committed a crime so remain like a criminal..."

While speaking to ETV Bharat, Ratre said that bamboos were illegally cut without his knowledge and any formal order.

"I have taken an action against Ranger, Deputy Ranger and labourers who were involved as I had no prior information about cutting of bamboos," he said.

However, another Beat guard, Ramkumar Yadav presents a different story. He said that he had the written order to cut bamboos.

"I had the formal order that's why labourers had come to cut the bamboos. I have absolutely no knowledge whether Ratre had prior information about this or not," added Yadav.