Forest guard beaten up for preventing cultivation

A forest guard was severely beaten up on Friday evening by tribals in Songadh taluka of Tapi district after he stopped them from cultivating on reserve forest land. A complaint has been lodged against 20 tribals in this regard,police said.

With the beginning of rain fall,the tribals of Bedvan Bhesroad village in Songadh taluka of Tapi district allegedly started their cultivation on the forest land. A forest guard of Songadh forest range,identified as Surti Raviya Chaudhary,reportedly asked them to vacate the land and landed up in a heated argument.

The guard took the possession of tractor used for cultivation and was on his way to Songadh forest office. A group of tribal people intercepted him on the way and allegedly beat him with wooden sticks and fists leaving multiple fractures on his legs and hands.

Surti later informed his head office about the incident. A group of forest officials rushed to the spot and took Surti to a nearby hospital. Songadh police have started a search operation to arrest the accused.