3 forest martyrs from Assam honored by Centre

Guwahati: The Centre on Friday acknowledged the sacrifice of three forest martyrs from Assam for their contributions in safeguarding forest and wildlife in 2019-20.

The three martyrs are: Nizamuddin Ahmed (Fix Pay Worker), Priyom Mech (Casual Driver), and Bikudar Bora (Game Watcher).

As per reports, they are among 22 other martyrs from across the nation who have been recognized for their sacrifice in 2019-20 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate (MoEFCC) change.

On the occasion of the 15th National Forest Martyrs Days, Minister for Forest and Environment Prakash Javadekar remembered and paid tribute to the martyrs who lost their lives while protecting our natural resources from forest fires, smugglers, and mafias.

Expressing deep anguish about a forest staff who was killed by Sandalwood smugglers, Javadekar stated that amendments shall be made in regulations so that sandalwood can be cultivated more widely.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar appealed to states to make a stern warning to the Sand Mafias and stated that the situation will be reviewed and those found involved in unlawful activities shall be punished.

"Revenue or forest officials doing their duty are killed. Attacks on them will not be tolerated. We will make strict laws, there will be stringent punishment provisions. This is very important, otherwise our nature will be looted, rivers will dry up," he tweeted in Hindi.

In another tweet, he stated,  "At @MOEFCC we observed the #ForestMartyrsDay at the national level for the first time, in recognition of forest personnel who sacrificed their lives for the protection of our environment, forest and wildlife."

Forest home guard Kewal Singh was mowed down by a tractor when he along with his colleague tried to stop suspected members of mining mafia inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar in July this year.

In the virtual interaction, the environment minister appealed to the state governments to take the issue of sand mining mafia seriously and impose strict laws to bring an end to the practice.

He informed that sustainable sand mining must be practiced so as to prevent the depletion of natural resources from river beds, the ministry said in a press note.

ALSO WATCH: Protest Against Move to Privatise Train Operations