Days after Range Forest Officer Deepali Chavan from Melghat Tiger Reserve shot herself alleging harassment at the workplace, the state government on Tuesday suspended former Field Director of the sanctuary and IFS officer, Srinivas Reddy.
The action against Reddy came after forest officers threatened to launch an agitation from April 2.
Soon after Chavan died by suicide, Deputy Conservator Vinod Shivkumar was arrested for allegedly harassing her.
However, it was not enough to placate forest officials. The Gazetted Forest Officers Association (Nagpur) shot off a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding a high-level probe.
Chavan, who was known as an upright officer, shot herself with her service revolver at her residential quarter in Harisal last week.
The 33-year-old was reportedly five months pregnant at the time.
On Tuesday, over 30 forest officials met Forest Secretary and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Women and Child Development Minister Yashomati Thakur to press for action against Reddy, who was transferred as additional principal chief conservator of the forest after Chavan’s suicide.
CM Thackeray holds the charge of the forest minister.
Surjitt Sahani
