HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, April 8: In a bold and unrelenting stand against illegal coal mining, Parishmita Neog, Forest Range Officer of Lekhapani under the Digboi Forest Division in Margherita has emerged as a formidable force protecting Assam’s precious forest reserves as leading her dedicated team with unwavering resolve.
On March 30, Parishmita Neog and her team struck a significant blow against the illegal coal mafia, apprehending the notorious coal trader Kaushal Singh and his two drivers, Rahul Singpho and Anil Prasad.
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The trio was caught red-handed in Bomgara, under the Lekhapani forest range, transporting 200 liters of diesel in a Bolero pickup vehicle an essential fuel supply for their unlawful operations.
Just days later, on April 1, the team escalated their efforts, seizing a Komatsu Poklen excavator at the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, directly linked to Singh’s illicit mining network.
Speaking with this correspondent, Neog revealed that a case no. (LP/44 of 2023-24) has been registered under the Assam Forest Regulation Act of 1891, charging the accused with unauthorized entry into the Lekhapani Reserve Forest and illegal coal extraction.
“The Bolero pickup, the JCB driver, and all involved parties have been taken into custody and sent to judicial remand,” she confirmed. “Since I assumed the role of Forest Range Officer, no one has dared to forcefully enter these protected reserves to extract coal using JCBs, Poklens, or excavators as this is just the beginning” said Neog.
Despite her remarkable success, Neog has faced challenges off the field as following Kaushal Singh arrest, a smear campaign allegedly orchestrated by vested interests and Singh’s associates has attempted to tarnish her reputation, branding her as corrupt as undeterred, Neog fired back with conviction: “Let them try to malign me—I will not be stopped. My team and I are committed to rooting out this illegal trade, and in time, the truth will prevail. Every culprit will be held accountable.” said a staff of Lekhapani forest range office.
Under Neog’s leadership, the Lekhapani Forest Range has become a no-go zone for coal smugglers, signaling a new era of enforcement in the region as her proactive operations have not only disrupted Kaushal Singh network but also sent a powerful message to others exploiting Assam natural treasures.
With seized vehicles, equipment, and key arrests piling up, Neog crusade has been gaining momentum and admiration from those who value the state’s rich ecological heritage.
As the fight against illegal coal mining intensifies, Parishmita Neog stands tall as a beacon of integrity and courage, proving that one determined officer can indeed turn the tide against environmental crime as the forest reserve areas of Lekhapani have found their fierce guardian, and she’s just getting started.
