CBI takes over probe into death of HP forest guard

The CBI has taken over the probe into the mysterious death of a forest guard in the Karsog area of Himachal Pradesh and illegal felling of trees on the directions of the state's High Court.
The agency has registered three FIRs against unidentified persons on the basis of the court order, officials said.
Hoshiyar Singh (22), a forest guard in the Karsog forest range in Mandi district, had gone missing on June 5 and his semi-naked body, hanging upside down from a tree was found in the forest on June 9.
The death had triggered protests with many seeking a CBI probe into the matter.

The police had registered a case of murder but after recovering a "suicide note" and other evidence, a case of abetment to suicide was registered and six persons were arrested on June 15 in connection with the death, according to officials.
Four more arrests were made on August 24.

A case of alleged illegal felling of trees registered by the police on the basis of details in the dairy of the deceased was also handed over to the CBI by the court.
In September, while handing over the probe to the central agency, a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma said there had been public outcry over the incident and the general sentiment was in favour of a CBI probe.

This was the second high-profile case in the recent past, after the Kotkhai rape and murder as well as custodial death case, to be handed over to the CBI by the high court.
The state will go to polls next month.