8 forest officials injured in attack by smugglers

Eight forest officials were injured, including two critically, when they were allegedly attacked by timber smugglers at a forest here.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of around 50 forest officials combed the Zinganur Rameshgudsam forest area under Sironcha taluka of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra last evening, forest officials said today.
On seeing the forest officials, the smugglers, around 50-60 in number and moving around on bullock carts loaded with teakwood, attacked them with stones and sticks, they said.
In the attack, eight officials were injured, including a sub-divisional forest officer and range forest officer being hurt critically.
All the injured have been admitted in the Rural Hospital, Sironcha, forest department sources said.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Shrilaxmi Annabattula confirmed the incident and said further details were awaited.
There were also reports that a timber smuggler was killed in retaliatory firing by forest officials, though no official confirmation was available.
Annabattula said forest officials fired in self-defence but added that there was no concrete report of any casualty.