Dehradun: The Congress party has launched a protest to curb the increasing number of wild animal attacks in various areas of Uttarakhand’s mountainous districts. In response, angry Congress workers today surrounded the Forest Headquarters on Rajpur Road. During the protest, they raised slogans against the government.
As Congress workers, led by State Congress President Ganesh Godiyal, marched from Dilaram Chowk to the Forest Building, the police present there closed the gates of the Forest Building and prevented the Congress workers from entering. A scuffle broke out between the Congress workers and the police over the gate opening. After this, the Congress workers forcibly opened the gates and entered the Forest Building premises. They protested, raising slogans against the government and the Forest Department.
Ganesh Godiyal demanded long-term security to protect people in the mountains from attacks by animals like bears and leopards. Brandishing a plastic gun, he warned forest department officials that the forest department must immediately relieve people of the dangers of wild animals, or else they would not hesitate to take up arms against the ferocious wild animals invading the affected rural areas.
He stated that incidents of wild animal attacks, especially bear and tiger attacks, have increased sharply in recent days in various mountainous and rural areas of the state. These incidents have created a sense of insecurity among citizens, livestock herders, and local residents, especially women, who venture into the forests to gather wood, fodder, and other valuables. For the past six months, such incidents have been continuously reported from rural areas, with a rise in the number of bear attacks causing serious injuries, tiger attacks, and the killing of domestic animals.
Ganesh Godiyal stated that in Pauri and Chamoli districts alone, bears and tigers have killed hundreds of domestic animals. Furthermore, many people have lost their lives in tiger and leopard attacks. These incidents are not only causing loss of life and property but also impacting people’s livelihoods. The Congress party submitted a memorandum to PCCF Wildlife RK Mishra regarding its demands, demanding increased tracking and monitoring of bear and tiger movements in the affected areas.
