Forest rangers attacked by wood smugglers in Udham Singh Nagar
On Friday (september 6) evening, wood smugglers opened fire on the forest department team in Peepal Padav range of Udham Singh Nagar district. The forest department team also retaliated, but four forest workers including the ranger were injured in direct firing by the smugglers. The injured have been admitted to the district hospital Rudrapur. Police has been verbally informed.
Ranger Roop Narayan Gautam received information at around 6 pm on Friday evening that forest smugglers are cutting green trees in the area. When the ranger reached the spot with the team, the smugglers started firing indiscriminately. The forest department team also fired about 20 rounds. Ranger Roop Narayan Gautam was injured in the firing by the forest smugglers when he got hit by shrapnel in his stomach.
According to the forest workers, the wood smugglers fired about 30 rounds. Later, the smugglers fled leaving behind a bike. The number of smugglers was about 12. A cut tree, saws, etc. have been recovered from the spot. DFO UC Tiwari said that the accused are being searched.
