Pilibhit village head among 64 booked for assaulting forest team

Pilibhit: A case has been registered against 64 villagers, including the head of Marauri village, for allegedly assaulting a forest patrol team and critically injuring a forest inspector, police said on Thursday. The attack took place around 8:30pm on Tuesday near a watchtower close to Marauri crossing about 1.5 km from Mala forest range of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR).Forest inspector Sumit Kumar said that villagers armed with sticks, spears and axes were heading towards core forest to fell trees and hunt wildlife. Acting on Kumar's alert, forest personnel, including deputy range officer Sher Singh and guard Sachin Singh, intervened but were attacked. While Kumar sustained critical head injuries, other members were also hurt.The mob allegedly vandalised Sher Singh's car and a motorcycle, stole bicycles belonging to field staff and fled. Kumar alleged the villagers also threatened the forest personnel with more attacks if they disrupted their "activities". Kumar added the staff subsequently shifted him to Autonomous State Medical College hospital.Neuria SHO Subhash Mawi said an FIR has been registered against Marauri village head Mewa Ram, along with 13 named and 50 unidentified under BNS sections 191 (2) (rioting), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) and 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.