A careless act of leaving burning cigarette butts on the ground by group of young people torched nearly 2 hectares of Morni Hills forest land on Sun- day. The Haryana Police have booked the individu also, including two women.
While two of the accused have been identified as Saurabh (29) and Prab- hjeet (24), identity of the two women is still under verification. The individuals have been booked under Sec- tions 326(F), 221, 351(2), and 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 at the Chandimandir po- lice station on Sunday.
According to information, Saurabh, a resident of Manimajra, and Prabhjeet, a resident of Naya- gaon, Mohali, who were acquaintances working at the IT Park, along with two women, decided to take a trip to Morni Hills. They arrived at Village Balag Mod, where they parked their black Ford vehicle on the roadside. The group allegedly trespassed into a protected forest area (Compartment C-132), predominantly of pine trees. The two men reportedly smoked cigarettes and discarded the remains carelessly, causing the fire. The group was intercepted by a forest guard, but they allegedly got into a scuffle, drawing the attention of passersby. As a crowd began to gather, the accused attempted to flee the scene but were apprehended by forest officials near the forest border.
The police were promptly informed, and after arriving at the scene, they took the group into custody for investigation. District Forest Officer (DFO) for Morni beat, Vishal Kaushik, told The Daily Guardian that he was informed about the fire around 6 PM, and it took approximately 1.5 hours to extinguish it. “It was a ground fire that destroyed plantations at the grassroots level. No wildlife was harmed, as no animal species are reported to inhabit the affected area,” said Vishal Kaushik. Kaushik added that Morni Hills had, in fact, never experienced natural forest fires. “I have been posted in Morni for over a year, and during this time, I have never witnessed natural causes leading to forest fires. Most fires here are triggered by neighbouring farmers during the Rabi harvest season, when they burn crop residue.
This incident, however, is unprecedented,” he said. Kaushik further stated that the District Forest Department is working with district authorities and NGOs to spread awareness about environmental protection at the village and block levels. “Police officials have been stationed for patrolling duties around the forested area, and we are working with the DDO and BDPO to enhance awareness about environmental protection across Panchkula district,” said Vishal Kaushik.
