Four forest officials were injured in an attack by a dozen armed persons, who were allegedly involved in tree felling in Karahal area of Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh, police said.
The incident occured yesterday when officials reached Karahal forest after getting information that a mafia gang was involved in felling teak trees.
As forest officials reached the spot, the group allegedly attacked them with lathis and axes in which four officials including a deputy ranger were injured.
The injured officials were admitted to the district hospital where their condition is said to be stable.
The gang also overpowered the staff and snatched the rifle from the Deputy Ranger and damaged the official vehicle and later fled away from the scene.
The injured were identified as Deputy Ranger Ramji Lal, Raghav Mirdha, Sumer Singh and Virendra. Lal and Mirdha were critically injured, police said
The snatched rifle was found broken and thrown at some distance from the site by the group.
Police have registered a case and launched a hunt to nab the gang.
