Sacrifice of forest personnel must be remembered, says judge
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Forest personnel performing gun salute to pay tribute to martyrs during National Forest Martyrs’ Day programme at Forest Bhavan in Kalaburagi on Friday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
The sacrifices of forest personnel who have laid down their lives while protecting forests, wildlife and biodiversity should always be remembered, said senior civil judge and member-secretary of the Kalaburagi District Legal Services Authority Srinivas Navale.
Speaking after offering floral tributes at the memorial for forest martyrs at the Forest Bhavan on Court Road in Kalaburagi on Friday, Mr. Navale said that sincerely discharging one’s duty was the true form of dharma. Forest personnel continued to perform their duties risking their lives to protect forests and wildlife, he said.
Recalling the contribution of IFS officer P. Srinivas, who was killed during an operation against notorious sandalwood and ivory smuggler Veerappan, Mr. Navale said that Srinivas had worked to create environmental awareness among the tribal communities in the Gopinatham area and promote afforestation.
He said forest personnel worked round-the-clock despite threats from forest fires, encroachers and wildlife poachers and the lack of adequate infrastructure. Society had a duty to acknowledge their selfless service and sacrifice, he said.
“Planting and nurturing trees was the best way for every citizen to contribute to forest conservation and pay tribute to forest martyrs,” Mr. Navale said, calling for wider publicity to raise donations to the fund established to support the families of martyrs and the education of their children.
Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of Kalaburagi Regional Forest Division Ashish Reddy said the Union government had declared September 11 as National Forest Martyrs’ Day in memory of the historic sacrifice of 363 members of the Bishnoi community at Khejarli in Rajasthan in 1730, while protecting trees.
“Around 62 forest officers and personnel in Karnataka had so far lost their lives in the line of duty. They included DCF P. Srinivas, who was honoured with the Kirti Chakra for his martyrdom during the fight against Veerappan; S. Manikandan of Nagarahole, who lost his life in an elephant attack and was honoured as an ‘Elephant Warrior’; Aravind Hegde, who was killed by timber smugglers; and Chikkerayya, who died while controlling a wild elephant,” he said.
Earlier, the police personnel performed gun salute as a mark of respect to the martyrs. Range Forest Officer Vijayakumar read out the names of the martyrs.
DCF of the Kalaburagi Social Forestry Division Sagar S. Tawade, Assistant Conservators of Forests Sunilkumar, Basavaraj Dange Manjula Nelajagi, Rajeshwari B., Kalyana Karnataka Forest Department Employees’ Association honorary president and retired Assistant Conservator of Forests R.R. Yadav and others were present.
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