Overview
- Forest Ranger Pratap Singh Chundawat and a colleague went to the Chhoti Sadri forest after a tip about illegal soil mining and were confronting a dumper when the vehicle allegedly struck and dragged Chundawat for metres late on Monday night.
- Chundawat was taken to hospital and later died during treatment at the district hospital in Nimbahera, while the forest guard at the scene was not reported seriously injured.
- Forest officials seized a JCB and a tractor from the site but the dumper and its driver remain untraced as teams from the forest department and police search for those involved.
- Local police have not issued public comments because many officers were on local body election duty, and the forest department has opened an investigation and formally sought 'martyr' status for Chundawat.
- The killing has sparked anger from opposition leaders and local officials, put a spotlight on organised illegal mining in Pratapgarh, and raised questions about protection and resources for forest staff who work alone at night.