Shimla, June 12: Expressing concern over the growing activities of mafias and other organised crime, former Chief Minister PK Dhumal said that it had justified the “Mafia Raj Hatao, Himachal Bachao” (Eliminate Mafias, save Himachal) campaign of the BJP.
“The gruesome murder of a forest guard, whose body was found hanging from a tree, killing of four-year-old boy Yug, illicit felling of trees in forests of Shimla, Chamba and other places, beating of the forest staff in Haroli and failure of the government to act against criminals and offenders, lend credence to allegations that mafias are being protected by the government,” he said in a statement issued here today.
Dhumal said it was a matter of concern that the mafias had emboldened to such an extent that there was no fear of law. He alleged that ‘clean chit’ being given by the government to offenders was responsible for it. The attitude of the government was so appalling that instead of taking action against the offenders, it chose to register cases against complainants, he claimed.
Dhumal said in the Haroli area, forest officials were beaten and their mobile phones were snatched, in Bilaspur a DFO, who shot the video of illicit felling, was beaten, but no action was taken.Dhumal alleged that the forest, mining, sand, transfer, liquor and drug mafias had become so bold that officials were feeling insecure and scared of taking action and government vehicles were being used for drug trafficking.
Source Tribune India
