Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Apr 6: Devadas (42), a forest guard, who had been admitted into the local hospital with severe injuries caused by the bullets fired by some hunters in the forest, breathed his last on the night of Saturday April 3.

Devadas, a resident of Narikkunnu in Kozhikode, had been seriously injured, after hunters fired at him on the night of March 25 at Tamarasseri Puduppady. His condition remained critical till the end.

Reacting to the incident, state forest minister, Binoy Vishwam, said that the state government is mulling the desirability of arming the forest guards with guns for self protection. “So far, no such demands have come from the forest guards. The government is yet to take a final decision,” he clarified.

He said that the government had earlier considered the issue of arming of the forest guards, but had not taken concrete steps, as the situation did not warrant such a step. Once a final decision is taken, the forest guards will be given training for six months, which will include using of the gun, he explained.