Even as the Kodagu superintendent of police Vartika Katiar threatened to include the names of top Kodagu BJP leaders in the rowdy list for the attack on IFS officer S. Sivasankar, the Indian Forest Service association has now sought action against the miscreants.
Sivasankar, a young Indian Forest Service officer, posted as deputy conservator of forests, Madikeri wildlife division, was attacked at Fort Hall, Madikeri, on November 28 during a meeting over the recommendations of the Dr Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats.
Sivasankar, 2010 batch IFS officer, hailing from Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu was attacked by the miscreants for voicing concern over the conservation activities. The attack occurred in front of the Mysuru MP, MLAs of Virajpet and Madikeri and Zilla Panchayat president of Kodagu. The incident was recorded on video by the district authorities.
Taking exception to the attack, Dr Ravi Ralph, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) and president of IFS officers’ association, in a statement said that the officer was only attending to his duty.
“He is a young, honest and upright officer and was attending to official duty at the time of the incident. The assault was unprovoked and appeared to be premeditative to intimidate the officer who had not permitted certain prohibited activities in the sanctuary while strictly enforcing the provisions of the Wildlife Act. The association has raised concerns about the safety of IFS officers and other forest staff, as such incidents have been repeatedly occurring in Kodagu district.”
The association sought intervention of the government and demanded stern and timely action against the perpetrators of such an act. A complaint has been lodged at the Madikeri Town police station by the officer and subsequently two false cases have also been registered against Sivasankar under prevention of atrocities act, according to the association.