Big impact: Forest department suspends two official found consuming alcohol in Cachar DFO’s office

Big impact of Barak Bulletin’s sting operation. Two officials who were filmed while consuming alcohol inside the Cachar Divisional Forest Office in Silchar have been suspended. Another official who was accused is being probed.

Divisional Forest Officer, Cachar, Tejas Mariswamy confirmed to Barak Bulletin about the development. “Based on the evidence available in public domain, the department has decided to suspend two officials. Parallelly an inquiry is being conducted. They have been suspended for their misconduct,” asserted DFO Tejas Mariswamy.

Dhurobojyoti Purkayastha and surveyor on duty Soumya Kanti Sinha (Rana) were seen consuming alcohol. Both have been suspended, informed the DFO. Purkayastha was filmed with a glass in his hand while in uniform. They were consuming alcohol in a room adjacent to the office of Sibohori Sinha, protection ranger cum Silchar Sadar Incharge – Ranger was also under the influence of alcohol, however, he moved away from the room and sat on his table pretending to work.

The DFO informed that it has been ordered to probe the allegations against him and if found guilty, appropriate actions will be taken against him.

The government appoints rangers and other forest officials. They are deployed in shifts to ensure that the forest land and wildlife are under the close watch of trained individuals round the clock. Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Cachar Forest Division is one such important office responsible for the forest land wildlife in its jurisdiction. Miscreants and poachers get active at night and so, rangers on night duty are urged to be proactive in the dark.

But, the Silchar Divisional Forest office turns into a bar at night. On duty officials on the government’s payroll switch off their vigilance mode to submerge in the party mood. While so long it was just a rumour, Barak Bulletin’s sting operation exposed the dark secrets inside the Forest Office.

In a room next to the office of Protection Ranger’s Office man in uniform Dhurobojyoti Purkayastha and surveyor on duty Soumya Kanti Sinha (Rana) were seen consuming alcohol.

When the officials saw media, they tried to snatch the camera. Some of them were hiding under the truck while a few officials just kept running. The department took action based on the reports published.