Forest watcher dies after being hit by ranger’s vehicle at Satkosia in Odisha’s Angul

Bantala: Tension prevailed after hundreds of irate locals staged an agitation today outside  Pampasara range office following death of a forest water after he was hit by a ranger’s vehicle in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary in Angul district of Odisha on Monday night.

The deceased was identified as Sambit Das (23) of Gopalpur village. Sources said Sambit was working as a forest watcher since the last six months. On Monday, just like every other day, he was on duty near Gopalpur village when Tikarparda ranger Maguni Behera’s vehicle going through that route hit him at around 6.30 pm. While Sambit fell on the road, grievously injured, none of the forest personnel came to his rescue or rushed him to a hospital despite the vehicle belonging to the department, the villagers alleged. He was admitted to the hospital after a delay of three hours where doctors declared him dead.

As the incident triggered widespread anger,people of Gopalpur resorted to protests following the incident. Under the impact of the agitation, vehicular movement of tourists to Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary remained disrupted. However, till reports last came in, none from the Forest department had reached the spot to pacify the agitators. Meanwhile, Purunakot IIC Aashish Jena and Bantala IIC Sumitra Patra too arrived and took stock of the situation by assuring the villagers of immediate and necessary action.