Attack on Two Forest Officers: Smugglers Destroy Weapons, Vehicles, and Phones in Haldwani

In a shocking incident, two forest officers were attacked by smugglers in Haldwani’s Bhakra Range on Thursday night. The assailants, seven young men from three different families, were transporting illegally harvested bael fruits worth approximately ₹40,000 in a tractor trolley. During the attack, they broke the officers’ gun, stole six cartridges, and damaged their motorcycle and mobile phones. Authorities have launched a search operation to locate the attackers.

The Incident

Forest officers Manoj Kumar Melkani and Mohan Singh Chauhan were patrolling the Lamachaur area when they noticed two motorcycles followed by a tractor-trolley approaching from the forest. The unusual movement of multiple vehicles at night raised suspicion, prompting the officers to intercept them at the Lamachaur First Gate. Upon stopping the trolley, they discovered large sacks filled with bael fruits.

Before the officers could take any action, the smugglers launched a violent attack. They broke their motorcycles and phones, severely injuring both officers with wooden sticks. One officer sustained injuries to his face and leg, while the other suffered leg injuries. When Officer Mohan Singh attempted to fire his government-issued rifle, the assailants snatched it, broke it, and stole six live cartridges before fleeing after breaking the gate.

Chase and Recovery

Regaining their composure, the injured officers continued their pursuit. A short distance away, they found the abandoned tractor. Upon searching the nearby area, they discovered several sacks of bael fruits discarded in an empty plot. A police complaint was immediately filed against the culprits at Mukhania Police Station. The accused have been identified as Suraj, Rajkumar, his brother Sanjay, siblings Yuvraj and Jogendra, and two others, Rohit and his brother Rammoorti. A case has been registered against them under multiple serious charges.

Legal Charges

The accused face legal action under the following sections:

• Assaulting public servants.
• Attacking law enforcement officers.
• Group assault with deadly weapons.
• Damaging government property.

Smuggling for Mahashivratri Preparations

With Mahashivratri approaching, smugglers were likely preparing to transport the illegally collected bael fruits to various locations in Uttar Pradesh for religious offerings. However, due to the swift intervention of the forest department, the contraband was seized before it could be shipped. The search for the attackers is ongoing.