SHIVAMOGGA: A significant arms theft case has emerged nearly two months after a double-barrel rifle went missing from the Sirigere forest range. Pawan Achar, a driver at the Range Forest Officer (RFO) office, has been accused of stealing the firearm and concealing it for two months. The theft was uncovered by the newly appointed RFO, Aravind, who took charge in August.
The rifle was previously under the supervision of Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Shivakumar. After receiving a tip-off, Chief Conservator of Forests Prasanna Krishna Patgar visited the RFO office in mid-August to address concerns among the staff. Although colleagues suspected Pawan due to his past issues with DRFO Shivakumar, he initially denied any involvement. However, the truth came to light when Pawan’s friend, Sudhish, confessed to selling the gun for ₹26,000 and keeping ₹6,000 for himself.
Following the revelations, RFO Aravind filed a complaint with Kumsi police, leading to Pawan’s contract termination the previous week. Concerns about accountability have been raised due to the silence of senior officials on the issue. ACF Suresh directed RFO Aravind to manage the situation, citing his limited authority to communicate with the media.
RFO Aravind confirmed to TOI that he had sought police action, although reports indicate that police have only questioned Sudhish. Kumsi Police claim the matter has been resolved, with the gun returned. The Rainland Conservation Community has condemned the incident and demanded action against those involved.
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