Sarpanch booked for ‘assault’ on Junagadh forester

28-05-2012
Sarpanch booked for 'assault' on Junagadh forester
The Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sarpanch-booked-for-assault-on-junagadh-forester/954734

The sarpanch of Dhamrej village in Sutrapada taluka of Junagadh district has been booked, along with some other villagers, for allegedly assaulting a local forest department official, who was reportedly trying to stop illegal mining in his range.

Police said sarpanch Bhaga Bhai and others allegedly attacked Nor Mohmmad Hasan with sticks and pipes at his house on Friday night. Hasan sustained severe injuries and managed to escape. He was later admitted to a hospital in Veraval.

A complaint of assault and conspiracy was filed against the sarpanch and others with the Sutrapada police station on Saturday .

Police said it all started when the forester had stopped the sarpanch recently from mining in the area, claiming the land belonged to the forest department.

Investigation by the police revealed that the sarpanch had asked Hasan to get a measurement of land done by the department to resolve the issue. "Hasan had sent a proposal to the district head office in Junagadh in this regard and the file was being processed," said a police officer.

But before the department could do a field survey, the sarpanch allegedly conspired and led the attack on the forester's house, police said, adding, "Hasan might have got killed if he had not managed to flee."