- Salute to immortal martyrs who laid down their lives to protect forests, wildlife and national wealth
- Families of martyred forest workers honored, officers and employees pledge to be vigilant towards nature conservation
National Forest Martyrs’ Day was celebrated with reverence and dignity today at the Chief Conservator of Forests office in Bastar. On this occasion, heartfelt tributes were paid to the brave forest martyrs of Bastar Division who made the supreme sacrifice while protecting forests, wildlife, and national treasure. Forest department officials and employees paid homage to the martyrs, remembering their indomitable courage, dedication, and sacrifice.
At the event, Ms. Stylo Mandavi, Chief Conservator of Forests of the Jagdalpur Forest Circle, offered floral tributes to the immortal martyrs. On this occasion, Mrs. Sukhay Bai, wife of the late martyred Forest Guard, Shri Haribandhu, who died in the line of duty in the Sukma Forest Division, was honored with a shawl and a coconut.
- Forest workers remain steadfast in their duty amidst Naxal violence
In the ceremony, the courage and sacrifice of the brave forest workers who did not shy away from their duty even amidst Naxal violence in the forest areas of Bastar was specially remembered. The martyrdom of late forest guard Shri Haribandhu and martyr forest guard Late Shri Rameshwar Pandey, who sacrificed their lives on the altar of duty in the Naxal attack on Kirandul-Palnar road on 31 January 1993, was saluted. Similarly, the sacrifice of late forest guard Shri Jagdishchandra Markam, who was abducted and brutally murdered by Naxalites while on official duty in Sukma forest division on 27 September 2010, was remembered.
- Performed duties even in challenging circumstances
Tributes were also paid to the late forest guard Shri V.P. Shastri and the late forest guard Shri Anganpalli Pandu, who attained martyrdom while serving the nation in an IED blast on a bus in Ketunnar village of Bijapur on April 12, 2014, during the Lok Sabha elections 2014. The indomitable courage and supreme sacrifice of the late forest guard (ranger) Shri Rathram Patel, who was martyred in the Naxalite attack in the Kompalli village area of Bhairamgarh Sanctuary under Indravati Tiger Reserve, Bijapur on September 11, 2020, was specially remembered.
- Tribute was paid by observing two minutes silence
At the event, Forest Department officials and employees observed two minutes of silence and prayed for the peace of the brave martyrs. Everyone pledged to follow the path of duty and dedication shown by the martyrs and work with complete devotion, vigilance, and commitment to the conservation of forests, wildlife, and nature.