PIL petitioners refute assault report

Responding to reports that wife of a forest officer was allegedly abused by “encroachers” residing adjacent to Zoological Park, Rangapahar, a PIL petitioner, on behalf of other petitioners, Tuesday said allegation that officer’s wife was physically assaulted and abused was “unfounded.”

According to petitioner in CS 03/10 Shivili Sema, the present suit land had been in cultivation by petitioners prior to government notification dated June 17, 1986 and lay within the vicinity of wildlife sanctuary along with many other established villages. 

However, the petitioner said on August 4, 2002, the Rangapahar wildlife sanctuary authority circulated a map whereby original area and boundary of the proposed wildlife sanctuary was altered and their cultivation lands affected by alteration of the boundary.