Jaipur, Sep 22 (PTI) A forest ranger was killed after being allegedly hit by a dumper while he was trying to stop illegal mining in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh district, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred late on Monday in the Chhoti Sadri forest area, when Forest Ranger Pratap Singh Chundawat and a forest guard reached the spot following inputs about illegal mining, they said.
According to officials, Singh tried to stop a dumper carrying soil when the driver allegedly hit him and dragged him along with his motorcycle for several metres before fleeing.
The injured ranger was taken to hospital and later referred to the district hospital in Nimbahera, where he died during treatment, officials said.
Divisional Forest Officer Suresh Chandra Agarwal said the department had received information about illegal mining in the forest area and a team went to the spot to take action.
“A JCB and a tractor have been seized and dumper is yet to be seized. We are investigating the incident and taking necessary action,” Agarwal said.
He said that the department has demanded to give “martyr” status to Chundawat. The dumper driver and the operator of the JCB allegedly involved in excavation fled from the spot after the incident, officials said.
Police officials did not comment on the issue citing local body election duty.
Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra said, “The news of the brutal crushing of Forest Department Ranger Pratap Singh Chundawat ji by a dumper while he was in Pratapgarh’s Chhotisadri to stop illegal mining, and his subsequent death during treatment, is extremely heartbreaking.
“This is not merely the murder of an officer; it is an open challenge to the law and order system in Rajasthan. The question is, how has the mining mafia in the state become so fearless that it no longer fears even taking the lives of officials?”
He further alleged that the BJP government’s focus is solely on “looting” public mandates and “murdering democracy”; upholding law and order and reining in the mining mafia are not priorities for the government. PTI AG MNK
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