The Centre on September 12 recognized the sacrifice of three forest martyrs from Assam for their contributions in safeguarding forest and wildlife in 2019-20.
The three martyrs – Nizamuddin Ahmed (fixed pay worker), Priyom Mech (casual driver) and Bikudar Bora (game watcher) – were among 22 other martyrs from across the country who have been recognized for their sacrifice in 2019-20 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate (MoEFCC) change.
On the occasion of the 15th National Forest Martyrs Day, Minister for Forest and Environment Prakash Javadekar remembered and paid tributes to the martyrs who lost their lives while protecting our natural resources from forest fires, smugglers and mafias.
The Union minister stated that despite the new sustainable sand mining rules and regulations being passed, many states and regions are not abiding by the rules.
A forest home guard Kewal Singh was mowed down by a tractor when he along with his colleague tried to stop suspected members of a mining mafia inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve at Alwar in Rajasthan.
The minister appealed to the state governments to take the issue of sand mining mafias seriously and impose strict laws to bring an end to the practice.
He said that sustainable sand mining must be practised so as to prevent the depletion of natural resources from river beds.
The Union minister also paid tribute to all forest martyrs who lost their lives fighting forest fires and due to wildlife attacks by tigers, elephants and single-horned rhino.
Certificates were issued in remembrance of the forest personnel who laid their lives while performing their duty in the year 2019-2020.
