A forest beat officer allegedly died by suicide after hanging himself inside his office room under Amarpur Forest Range under Gomati district on Monday, triggering concern in the area. The deceased has been identified as Swapan Tripura, a resident of Kalacherra under Sabroom subdivision of South Tripura district, who was posted as a Beat Officer at Dalak Beat Office.
Sources said that, Swapan Tripura had gone to his home at Kalacherra from the office last Friday and returned to his workplace on Saturday morning. Local people said he was carrying out his official duties normally at the beat office till Sunday evening.
Swapan Tripura was reportedly staying at the beat office premises. On Monday morning, when the office did not open even after a considerable delay, local residents informed other forest department employees. The matter was subsequently reported to Birganj police station.
Police rushed to the spot and, with the help of forest department personnel, broke open the locked room of the beat office and recovered Swapan Tripura’s body hanging inside. The body was sent to the mortuary of Amarpur Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem examination.
After receiving the news, Swapan’s wife, younger brother and other relatives rushed to Amarpur from Kalacherra. Following the post-mortem, the body was handed over to the family members on Monday afternoon.
The deceased’s relatives have demanded a proper investigation into the incident. They have alleged before the police that Swapan Tripura took the extreme step due to alleged mental harassment by an SDFO (Sub-Divisional Forest Officer) of the Forest Department.
When contacted over the allegations, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Gomati district said that the matter is being investigated by the police. He expressed hope that the police investigation would reveal the actual circumstances behind Swapan Tripura’s death.