Rajganj, 17th July: A day after State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed anger over the role of forest officials in the Swapna Barman timber scandal case and announced the transfer of Belakoba Range Officer Sanjoy Dutta, members of the Joint Forest Management Committee declared to demonstrate against the decision.
The JFMC members visited the Range Office on Friday and extended their support to the Ranger. Committee member Mustafa Hussain Chaudhary described Sanjoy Dutta as an honest and loyal officer.
It is to be noted, the Asian Games gold medal winning heptathlete Swapna Barman’s house at Kaliaganj, Jalpaiguri was raided by forest department officials for alleged illegal possession of timber. However, Barman claimed that she ‘did not steal’ anything. Allegedly, the forest officials gave her a 30-day notice to produce a supporting document of the purchase.
Angered by the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during a press conference at Nabanna on Thursday, condemned the role of the forest officials and stated that the Ranger will be transferred.
JFMC member Mustafa Hussain Chaudhary stated that the forest officials conducted the raid as per the laws and the Ranger being transferred for it is ‘unethical’. The committee has declared to demonstrate against the issue from July 18.