Forest Ranger Killed as Illegal Mining Dumper Crushes Him in Rajasthan

A decorated Forest Ranger was killed in Rajasthan's Pratapgarh district after a dumper truck allegedly involved in illegal mining ran him over, officials said on Tuesday.

Pratap Singh Chundawat, 40, was pursuing the dumper on his Royal Enfield motorcycle when he was crushed around midnight on Monday. He was taken to the Nimbahera government hospital, where he died during treatment on Tuesday.

The incident occurred within the Choti Sadri police station limits, in a forest area near the Ghatiwale Balaji temple.

According to Pratapgarh Deputy Superintendent of Police Rameshwar Lal, the forest team received information late on Monday that soil was being illegally excavated from a forest area. On reaching the spot, the team found a JCB machine and a dumper at work. The dumper fled on seeing the officials, and Chundawat gave chase on his motorcycle.

The DSP said that as other suspects caught up, they provoked the dumper driver to crush the officer, saying "charha de iske upar" (run him over). The driver, identified as Kana Bawri, allegedly ran over Chundawat and escaped.

An FIR has been registered under sections relating to murder, illegal mining, obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions, and theft from forest land. The JCB and the dumper have been seized, and several people, including the owner and driver of the JCB, have been detained for questioning.

The FIR states that about five to six people were involved in the illegal digging when the three forest personnel first arrived. Forest guards Suresh and Ajay were accompanying Chundawat, and other personnel were called to the spot later.

The DSP said the earth being excavated was a thick, 'gaara' type of mud used to make bricks or plaster and to fill gaps in houses.

Pratapgarh Superintendent of Police Vishal Jangid visited the spot on Tuesday to take stock of the situation. Chundawat's body was handed over to his family after an autopsy, and the cremation took place at his native village in the neighbouring Chittorgarh district.

Pratapgarh Deputy Conservator of Forest Suresh Agrawal described Chundawat as a multi-faceted officer and "our best officer". He said Chundawat had been nominated for a state-level award this Independence Day and had received several honours at the district and division levels. He was actively involved in wildlife rescue, particularly of panthers and pythons, and his work in nurseries and plantations had produced good results. He was also active in swimming and shooting.

Chundawat had been posted in the district for around two years. Agrawal said a proposal would be sent to the government to grant him martyr status.

On the eve of World Environment Day on June 5, Chundawat was honoured in Jaipur by the Rajasthan Environment and Energy Conservation Centre for outstanding contributions to forest and wildlife conservation, recognising his work in wildlife rescue, environmental protection, forest encroachment removal and forest protection.

Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra called the death "extremely heartbreaking" and said it was not merely the murder of an officer but an open challenge to the law-and-order system in Rajasthan. He questioned how the mining mafia in the state had become so fearless that it no longer feared taking the lives of government officials.