STPF cops, forest guard hurt in attack by villagers in Dudhwa; case filed

Pilibhit: Two special tiger protection force (STPF) personnel and a forest guard suffered injuries after residents of Keeratpur village allegedly attacked and assaulted them in the Keeratpur forest beat of Gauriphanta forest range in Palia forest division of Kheri district. A case was registered against the assailants – including two identified persons – on Monday evening.A written complaint was filed at Gauriphanta police station by forest guard Deepak Kumar stating that on Sunday afternoon, while patrolling in the area, he along with STPF head constable Govind Ram and STPF constables Manjit Kumar, Kesar Singh and Bhaiya Lal, caught a few villagers bursting crackers inside the core forest and disturbing wildlife.When they reprimanded them and attempted to drive them out of the forest, the villagers allegedly lost their temper and thrashed the head constable with an iron bar and also tried to snatch his rifle. Soon residents from the adjacent area were called in while several women surrounded the forest post, the complainant added.The head constable was taken to hospital in critical condition while constable Manjit Kumar and the forest guard suffered minor injuries.Deputy director of Dudhwa tiger reserve, Jagdish R, said, that a case has been registered against two assailants identified as Shyam Lal and Ram Sagar, along with a few unidentified accused, under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt to a govt servant), 132 (criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult) of BNS.