Stone-pelting on anti-encroachment team in Burhanpur:4 including JCB operator injured; over 500 officers deployed

On Sunday morning, a team from the Forest Department, Police, and Administration arrived at village Jhanjhar in the Nepa Range of Burhanpur Forest Division to remove external encroachers. During this, around 11 AM, the team was pelted with stones, in which 4 people including forest workers were injured. A JCB operator was brought to the district hospital by ambulance. The team is still present in the forest. The Forest Department had been planning to remove external encroachers for a long time, but the date could not be finalized. The action began on Sunday, but stone-pelting occurred in Jhanjhar. Forest staff from 4 districts of Nimar and local police are involved in this operation. For this, forces were assembled at Burhanpur Police Lines on Saturday evening. Identifying and evicting external encroachers DFO Vidyabhushan Singh informed that a major action is being carried out in Nepanagar Range on Sunday. External encroachers are being identified and evicted. This includes police, administration, and forest workers from Burhanpur along with Khandwa, Khargone, and Barwah. More than 500 officers and employees are in the field with JCBs and other resources. Stones thrown at JCB, steering shook and JCB overturned JCB driver Kamal Bansal, a resident of Sidhi, is admitted to the district hospital. During the operation, encroachers threw stones at the JCB, which caused the steering to shake and the JCB overturned. The youth suffered a head injury and escaped by running away. The injured person stated that more than 150 encroachers attacked, causing the police and forest workers to flee. Forest guard Vijay Chore brought him to the hospital, where outpost in-charge Salim Khan recorded his statement. SDO of Burhanpur Forest Division, Ajay Sagar, informed that the forest department team had reached Jhanjhar to carry out encroachment removal action. During this, some people pelted stones, in which a JCB driver was injured. The driver has suffered a head injury and has been admitted to the district hospital. His condition is currently stable. No other person was injured in the incident. Created awareness through meetings and planned eviction In the past years, large-scale deforestation occurred in Nepanagar and Navra ranges. Later, millions of root-shoots and plants were planted for development, which will take 15-20 years to become trees. The Forest Department has now intensified efforts to stop encroachment and cutting. Villagers were made aware through meetings and an eviction plan was prepared. Encroachers had cut trees in front of officials About two and a half years ago, there was large-scale devastation in the district’s forests. External encroachers had cut trees in front of officials. After this, the administration, police and Forest Department launched a campaign in Navra range and demolished more than 1000 huts and removed the encroachers. Later, plantation was done. Now the eviction campaign is running again, because ineligible people have also settled besides the eligible ones. Notices were given asking them to leave, but many people are still settled Two and a half years ago, after a 17-day operation, the Forest Department issued notices asking encroachers to vacate, but many people are still settled there. Now such people have been legally identified. Forest officials said that eligible people need not worry. Those who are ineligible and claiming residence before 2005 without proof will be removed. According to sources, people from Khargone, Barwani and Khandwa have also settled here. Strict action will be taken against such people.