Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 10: Taking no lesson from killings of Special Police Officers (SPOs) by militants in the state, the Forest Protection Force has allegedly made the guards of the department vulnerable to militant attacks by making their uniform similar to police personnel.
Though the FPF guards are duty bound to venture deep in the jungles to take care of the forest cover, but so far they have been safe from the wrath of militants due to no weapons and a distinctive forest uniform, differentiating them from the police force.
Each unit of nearly 50 guards have been given few outdated 303 rifles and moreover their uniform has been made similar to police personnel, making them easy target of the militants, who usually take refuge in deep jungles.
The FPF guards were recruited through SSB and initially they were given the uniform of (Maroon colour) pants, tea colour shirt, red belt and red shoes. The shirt was changed with Maroon colour and in 2003-04, the uniform was third time changed to Khaki pants and shirt along with red shoes and red belt.
"Since then, we didn't raise any objection for change of uniform as the Territorial Forest division guards also have the same uniform Khaki pant, shirt and red shoes and belt", the guards said, adding at-least people differentiate between Forest guards and police personnel across the state.
Only the red shoes and red belt differentiate FPF guards as well as Forest dept guards from the police personnel, they said, adding, "Now for the fourth time, the Director FPF has changed the uniform by replacing red shoes and red belt with black shoes and black belt, due to which, neither ordinary people nor militants would differentiate the forest guards from police personnel and FPF guards would be safe target.
The order of changing uniform was issued by Director vide order number 1357 DFPF of 2017 dated 9/11/2017 but was not implemented even during Republic day parade but now on 8/10/2018, the Deputy Director FPF issued a circular asking all to wear uniform mentioned in the above said order.
The guards further said that the order was issued some months back but in view of the Independence day celebrations, the Director has threatened to take action, if someone was found without the uniform. "Some of the senior officials of department have been misleading and the Director and have some vested interests in this entire game-plan, which needs to be thoroughly investigated", the guards said.
Commissioner Secretary, Forest department Saurab Bhagat said that he was unaware of any such order and even if such order has been issued by Director, it has no approval of department.
Director FPF Asif Iqbal said that the FPF was established on the pattern of Police force and in Police force there was difference between the uniform of officers with stars and without stars and same pattern was followed in the FPF.
On the question of apprehensions of FPF guards allegedly making them soft target of militants, Director said that if the guards would have some reservations they must have approached him. "I will hold a darbar to know about the grievances of the FPF guards and solve their issue", he said. |
