By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 7 May: Kedarnath Wildlife Division team red handedly caught six people setting fire to the forests at Kaliphat Meetha Pani of Rambada section in Century area of Ukhimath range. A case has been registered against the accused. In Gauchar too, four people have been arrested for setting forest fires. The accused have also confessed to their crime during interrogation.
The team of Gopeshwar and Ukhimath range of Kedarnath Wildlife Division had gone on a tour of Sonprayag-Bhimbali area. During this time, the personnel found six people in Meetha Pani of Kaliphat, setting fire in the forest area there. During interrogation, these people revealed their names as Mastan Singh, Rajendra Khatri, Manoj Chandra, Devendra Lal, Man Singh and Shahil Chandra residents of Dangwal village, Jakholi. During this time, forest department personnel also extinguished the fire. Also, all the accused were brought to Ukhimath Range Office, where a case was registered against them. DFO Abhimanyu Singh said that till now more than 25 cases have been registered in forest fire cases.
In addition, near Kameda of Badrinath Highway and Dhanpur Range of Kedarnath Forest Division, the police has arrested four youths on charges of setting fire and handed them over to the Forest Department. Gauchar police informed Karnaprayag Kotwali police on Sunday night that unknown people in a white car set fire to the grass and bushes on the roadside near Kameda and ran away towards Karnaprayag.
When Karnaprayag police stopped the vehicle at the market post, four people were found drunk and they were found to be involved in damaging forest property. The Police arrested Ankit Bhandari resident of Prem Nagar Srinagar Road Pauri, Manish Bhandari resident of Village Pali District Pauri, Naveen Negi resident of CMO Office Pauri and Tanuj Rawat resident of Subhash Nagar, Gopeshwar and handed them over to the Forest Department. Dhanpur Range Gauchar Forest Officer Shivangi Dimri said, a case will be registered against the accused under the Indian Forest Act and they will be presented before the magistrate.
