Dimapur, March 16 (MExN): The Indian Forest Service Association (IFSA) Central Unit, New Delhi, has paid tribute to N Luikham IFS, Chief Conservator of Forest, Meghalaya who died at his East Khasi Hills district residence on March 13. The Association said Luikham was an “outstanding officer with high integrity and moral character” and lamented that his untimely demise is a “blow to the battle for conservation of natural resources.”
Concerned by the circumstances of Luikham’s death, the Indian Forest Service Association (IFSA) on March 15 wrote to Donland Phillips Wahlang, IAS, Chief Secretary of the Government of Meghalaya to draw attention towards “the tragic incident of suicide committed by N Luikham, IFS (CCF Meghalaya) on Wednesday 13th March at 7:30 AM.”
The Association in their letter appended by Dr Suneesh Buxy, IFS, Secretary General IFSA said, “it is learnt that one of the factors for this unfortunate incident was allegation of sexual harassment made by an officer working in the Government of Meghalaya.” It stated in the letter that late N Luikam “underwent lot of mental trauma and agony because of this fabricated allegations backed by some powerful mining lobby in the state. It is also learnt that nothing substantive has been found against the officer in the said case.”
Stating that the circumstances surrounding the officer’s suicide have raised serious questions, the IFS Association has urged to the Chief Secretary to assign the matter to the CBI for a detailed, impartial inquiry and stringent action for acts of abetment or negligence, so that such incidents do not recur in the future.
The Association expressed confidence in the Chief Secretary for “prompt action, which would go a long way in boosting the morale of young IFS officers in particular and other all India officers across the country. It also added that IFSA will be grateful “if action initiated and outcome of the inquiry is communicated” to the Association “from time to time.”
