6 forest officials injured as villagers attack anti-encroachment team in Madhya Pradesh

INDORE: Around six forest department personnel were injured after a violent mob of villagers allegedly attacked an anti-encroachment team in the Jinwani forest range of Dewas district on Saturday morning.The incident took place around 11. 30am in compartment number 94 of the Kamlapur beat.According to officials, a joint team comprising forest staff from five ranges and a police force from the Kamlapur station had arrived at the site to clear illegal encroachments.However, residents of Bhilamla village fiercely opposed the drive and began pelting stones at the team.The situation quickly escalated as the aggressive mob allegedly vandalized several vehicles, including a JCB machine deployed for the operation.

Outnumbered, the forest staff had to run into nearby fields to save their lives.Six employees, identified as forest guards Mohan Panchonia, Jyoti Jat, Kamal Rana, Devkaran Malviya, Suraj, and Forester/Range Assistant (Jinwani) KK Parmar, sustained injuries in the assault.The injured personnel were rushed to the Kamlapur Primary Health Centre and RR Hospital in Chapda for treatment.Initial inputs suggest that a former Sarpanch allegedly instigated the mob to attack the authorities.

Senior officials have been briefed on the situation, and the local police have launched an investigation into the violence.Following the brazen attack, a massive joint crackdown by the police, district administration, and the forest department is expected against the attackers and the illegal encroachers in the region.