KOZHIKODE: Divisional forest officer (DFO) P Dhanesh Kumar, who played a key role in unearthing Muttil tree felling case, has sought protection after he was threatened. This was after Roji Augustin, key accused in the case, allegedly threatened Kumar in front of SIT officers when he was questioned at Aluva Police Club after the arrest of the three Augustin brothers on July 28.
In a letter to Arun RS, chief conservator of forests and member of SIT, Dhanesh said that Roji had threatened him at Aluva Police Club saying that he would also trap him (Dhanesh) for anti-national activities and implicate him in grave criminal offences under NDPS Act, Abkari Act.
“Roji and his brothers were repeatedly saying to every investigating officer that they will not let me live. I would like to bring to your kind attention that I’m facing severe threats to my life as a result of unearthing this issue. Hence it is humbly requested that appropriate action may kindly be taken to give adequate protection to my life, while I am in Wayanad as part of my official duties,” he wrote in the letter. He also sought necessary action to ensure the safety of his family.
The letter said that on July 28, the Augustin brothers were arrested by SIT and were moved to the Aluva Police Club. Kumar was directed to attend a meeting on the same day and told to be present at the same location that day. “When Roji Augustin saw me he started raising his voice in front of the police officers threatening that he would trap me for anti-national activities, and implicate me in grave criminal offences under NDPS Act, Abkari Act, etc, and that he would go to any extent to create evidence in support of this,” the letter said.
Meanwhile, the inquiry conducted by forest department into the complaints against conservator of forests NT Sajan has indicted the IFS officer of serious wrongdoings, including filing a baseless report to the department that amounted to derailing the investigations in Muttil illegal tree felling case.
The report had stated that Sajan was involved with the prime accused in Muttil case (Augustin brothers) and their accomplices while filing the baseless report on Feb 15. Meanwhile, it has emerged that Sajan had spoken to the accused over phone 86 times and that a journalist with a Malayalam news channel had also called the accused numerous times.
