Raman Singh backs minister after officer threat

Chhattisgarh panchayat raj minister Ajey Chandrakar on Monday stirred up a hornet’s nest when he threatened to kill an officer of the state forest department. He reportedly lost his cool and issued a threat to the officer while he was taking a review meeting of the forest department in Korea district as a part of the month-long “Lok Suraj” campaign launched by CM Raman Singh. According to sources, he asked local forest ranger B.S. Pakre to identify the officer who could give him information on progress made. Infuriated at the officer’s absence, he said “You arrange a garland (for him) or I will kill you.” The CM defended him, saying action must be taken against the erring officer.