https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Diwali Trip Turns Violent: Senior Government Officers and Forest Officials Clash in Gir Over Trivial Disagreement

The confrontation, which occurred in the popular Sasan region of Gir, involved J. Rajnith Kumar, the Additional CEO of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), and CFT Karuppasamy, the Chief Forest Officer (CFO) of Gandhinagar, alongside several forest employees.
Indian Masterminds Stories

A shocking incident unfolded during the Diwali holidays in Gir, when a brawl broke out between senior government officials and forest department employees over a trivial matter. The confrontation, which occurred in the popular Sasan region of Gir, involved J. Rajnith Kumar, the Additional CEO of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), and CFT Karuppasamy, the Chief Forest Officer (CFO) of Gandhinagar, alongside several forest employees.

The altercation began when the senior officers visited Sasan Lion Safari, a prime tourist destination in the Gir region, during the Diwali break. After staying at the Safari, they went on a jungle safari. Tensions flared when one of the officers’ children needed to relieve themselves and approached a nearby food stall for assistance. The stall was operated by Nirupama Beniwal, a female forest employee, who objected to the request, sparking a heated exchange between her and the officers.

The situation escalated when Hitesh Rathod, a forest guard, intervened and physically confronted the senior officers. According to reports, the forest officials did not immediately recognize the identities of the individuals involved, which led to the confrontation spiraling into a full-fledged brawl. The senior officers were struck before they were able to reveal their positions.

Once the forest officials realized that they had been involved in a physical altercation with high-ranking government officers, they immediately backed down and attempted to de-escalate the situation. The senior officers identified themselves, and the matter was reported to local authorities in Sasan.

Both CFT Karuppasamy and Hitesh Rathod later issued statements clarifying that the brawl had been the result of a misunderstanding. Karuppasamy confirmed that the conflict was accidental and apologized for the incident. Rathod echoed the sentiment, expressing regret over the confusion and asserting that no ill intentions had been involved.

Despite the swift resolution of the incident, the case has attracted attention from union leaders representing forest employees. They have expressed concern about potential disciplinary actions against the forest officials involved in the altercation. The union has issued a warning, stating that any punitive measures, including transfers or other sanctions, would be met with resistance.

As of now, the matter has been resolved internally, but the episode has highlighted the underlying tensions that can arise from misunderstandings in high-pressure environments, particularly in tourist hotspots like Gir during peak seasons.

Background:
Gir is renowned for being home to the Asiatic lion and attracts a large number of tourists, especially during the Diwali holidays. It is managed by the Gujarat Forest Department, with a mix of local forest officials and external tourism operators involved in its management.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IAS Ashwani Kumar
Assam’s Bold Bet on Local Talent: IAS Ashwani Kumar’s Vision for a Digital Assam
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
IPS-logo-resized_new
10 Senior Cops Get New Roles In Bihar Police; DG Jitendra Kumar Gets Additional Charge of B-SAP
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
Jharkhand IFS Rajneesh Kumar Transferred Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings - Details Inside
Uttar Pradesh UP Government
17 Review Officers Transferred in Uttar Pradesh Secretariat Administration Reshuffle - Details Inside
IFS-forest-resized
6 IFS Officers Transferred in Odisha to Strengthen Environmental Administration, Jagayandatt Pati Made RCCF, Koraput Circle
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
4 Young IAS Officers Reshuffled in Uttarakhand, Rahul Anand Made Joint Magistrate, Dehradun
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IAS Ashwani Kumar
Assam’s Bold Bet on Local Talent: IAS Ashwani Kumar’s Vision for a Digital Assam
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT