SRINAGAR: The Forest Department today observed Forest Martyrs Day at Shankaracharya Hills, Srinagar, paying solemn tribute to forest personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
The gathering was headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF), Sarvesh Rai, and was attended by senior officers of the Department, including the Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir; Conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle; Joint Director, FPF Kashmir; Joint Director, Soil Conservation, Kashmir; Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs); Deputy Director, FPF Srinagar; Range Officers; and other field staff. The gathering was also attended by Nazir Benazir, CAMPA NGO Member.
The PCCF, along with senior officers of the Department, paid floral tributes at the Martyrs Memorial in honour of the fallen.
Speaking on the occasion, the PCCF highlighted the challenging conditions under which forest personnel discharge their duties ranging from encounters with wild animals to confrontations with timber smugglers. He paid rich tributes to the Forest Martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in the performance of their duties, ensuring the ecological security of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
As a mark of remembrance, the Department also planted conifer saplings under the banner “Ek Ped Shaheedon Ke Naam” in honour of the Forest Martyrs at Balwan Srinagar.
A simlar event was organized at Kashmir Forest Training School, Chitternar Bandipora wherein the Principal of the Kashmir Forest Training School along with the concerned staff and trainees paid rich tribute to Forest Personnel who laid their lives in the line of duty.
