Forest officer receives beheading and mutilation threats:MLA allegedly asked officer to stop timber seizure action; complaint filed with police

A shocking case has come to light from Khilchipur area of Rajgarh district, where a Deputy Ranger of the Forest Department has received threats of beheading and mutilation after acting against illegal sawmills. Deputy Ranger Mohan Songira has alleged that he was threatened after the flying squad team of the Forest Department sealed four sawmills operating without permits in Chhapiheda. The officer has filed a written complaint with the police, alleging that the threats intensified soon after the crackdown, and even a local MLA’s name has surfaced in connection with the case. Forest team seized Illegal Timber and Machines According to reports, on October 27–28, the flying squad, led by Deputy Ranger Songira, conducted inspections in Chhapiheda. The team found multiple sawmills operating with wet timber and wood without valid transit passes (TPs).
Following due procedure, four sawmills were sealed. However, within hours, Songira began receiving threatening calls warning him of dire consequences for his actions. “Will cut off your neck and private parts” In his complaint, Songira stated that a sawmill operator named Kaluram called him on the night of October 27, abusing him and saying: “I’ll have your neck cut off and your private parts chopped. You made a big mistake sealing my machine. Why didn’t you take the money?” The next day, October 28, during another inspection in Jeerapur, Songira and his team were allegedly threatened and nearly assaulted by two other operators — Gudda Rathore and Ramesh Vishwakarma. MLA allegedly asked officer to stop the action Songira further alleged that around 4 pm, he received a call from Mahesh ‘Gudda’ Vishwakarma, who then connected him to Khilchipur MLA Hajari Lal Dangi on the same phone.
According to Songira, the MLA said: “Return immediately. I’ll handle everything. If you don’t, I’ll take action against you.” The Deputy Ranger claimed that MLA Dangi had earlier opposed the seizure of timber by the department. Complaint filed with police and forest officials Fearing for his safety, Songira has submitted written complaints to the Khilchipur police station, Superintendent of Police, and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO).
He said tearfully: We were only following government orders, but these are influential people. They have threatened me before, and now my life is in danger. Songira named Kaluram (Chhapiheda), Gabbar Habib Khan (Jeerapur), Ramesh Vishwakarma (Kharpa), and Mahesh ‘Gudda’ Rathore as the individuals who issued threats. Forest department staff have demanded strict action against all accused. 14 illegal sawmills sealed across the district Sources in the Forest Department revealed that the flying squad has so far sealed 13 to 14 sawmills across Rajgarh district for storing wet or unlicensed timber. The action has reportedly caused panic among local timber mafias and their political backers. It is alleged that several of the sealed sawmills are linked to politically influential families. MLA denies allegations Reacting to the controversy, MLA Hajari Lal Dangi denied the accusations, saying: The allegations are politically motivated. I haven’t spoken to anyone in this matter.