By Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, May 6: The tribals from Goa’s khotigao wild life sanctuary today alleged acute harassment by forest department officials in the restricted area.
The tribal leaders, who contended that the harassment has even caused death of a villager, this morning met state’s chief conservator of forest Dr Shashi Kumar demanding action against range forest officer Paresh Parab and Anand Mestri. The leaders have stressed for the transfer of the officials from the sanctuary, failing which, they have warned of statewide agitation.
“The officers are disobeying the forest act and tribal forest act, which gives protection to the traditional inhabitants of the sanctuary,” Prakash Velip, President, United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTTA), said. .
Velip, former cooperative minister, met the CCF along with legislator Ramesh Tawadkar, who represents the wild life sanctuary area, and contended that scheduled tribe community which has been staying here since ages are facing physical torture by the officials.
“The forest officials disrespecting the forest act and tribal forest act have made people’s life hell. It’s difficult for the people live their life in the sanctuary,” Velip said.
The tribals stated that one Narayan Gaonkar, who was mercilessly beaten up by the forest officials, four years back, died. He was arrested by forest department for plucking wild mushrooms.
The tribals’ issue has resurfaced this month after forest department lodged complaint against BJP legislator Tawadkar for interfering in their duties at Khotigao wildlife sanctuary. “The legislator had gone to rescue a tribal who was being beaten up in Hattipaul wild life office in the sanctuary but the police complaint was registered against the legislator himself,” Velip said.
Forest department had arrested one Manoj Pawalkar for allegedly smuggling liquor through wildlife sanctuary route on april 26, 2009.
The tribal leaders stated that the conflict between the locals and forest officials have been on for quiet sometime and it is getting murkier every passing year.
“I was beaten up by forest department officials alleging that I caught wild crabs. They assaulted me so much mercilessly that I was bedridden for almost three months,” Laximan Velip (45) told reporters showing the signs of assault which were clearly visible on his body.
He said that the incident occurred a year back when he along with two others Sanjay Velip (16) and Hemant Velip (10) were brutally assaulted by the officers.
The ST community leaders have also complained that the traditional pathways used by them since ancestral years are blocked by these officers without any reason.
The memorandum submitted to the forest department senior narrates around seven incidents of brutal assault including an incident wherein a pregnant lady had to suffer in the vehicle after forest officials refused to open the gate to let her to go the hospital.