The state forest department has suspended Julfikar Alam, ranger of the central range, Krishnai under Assam’s Goalpara forest division on corruption charges.
Alam allegedly destructed forest resources for personal gain and violated the Arms Act 1959.
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The suspension order was issued by RK Mazumdar, commissioner and secretary of environment and forest department vide FRE.100/2019/32 on December 20 and it came to light on Thursday evening.
The order said Alam has been held responsible, based on the report of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO ), Goalpara, for the ‘negligence of government duty and direct violation” of Arms Act 1959.
Through the order, Alam was further held responsible for “his willful negligence towards controlling illegalities, direct connivance with smugglers to carry on illegal activities on the destruction of forest and forest produce”.
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The suspension of an officer up to the ranger rank has once again shown the corruption practice by some of the forest officers and that they hobnob with the anti-social forces.
On the other hand, wild elephants’ depredation continues in the Goalpara district.
On Friday morning, two jumbos damaged the kitchen walls of Damas LP School at Krishnai and devoured baby foods, midday meal rice, and vegetables.
In another incident at Panbari area near Digboi town of upper Assam’s Tinsukia district, one Ajit Murmu was attacked by wild elephants when he went inside the neighbouring jungle to collect firewood. Murmu sustained grievous injuries in the attack.