Forest Department Ranger Pratap Singh Chundawat, 40, was killed on the night of 22 September 2026 while leading an enforcement operation against illegal mining in Chhoti Sadri, Pratapgarh district, Rajasthan. Public representatives, forest officials, and social organisations are now demanding that the government accord him martyr status, citing his death in the line of duty.

How the Fatal Incident Unfolded

At around 11.30 pm on Monday, Pratap Singh and his team reached the forest area of Chak Sukhad, near Ghati-wale Balaji in Chhoti Sadri, acting on information about illegal mining and unauthorised soil transportation. The team found a JCB, a tractor, and a soil-loaded dumper at the site and proceeded to seize the dumper.

According to the police account, as Pratap Singh was returning towards the range office on his motorcycle, the dumper driver suddenly accelerated the vehicle. The ranger and his motorcycle were allegedly dragged for around 50 metres. Sustaining critical injuries, he was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead. What had begun as a routine late-night enforcement operation ended in the fatal loss of a field officer with years of service behind him.

The Hunt for the Accused Driver

Pratapgarh Superintendent of Police Vishal Jangid confirmed that several people had been detained for questioning and that three police teams had been deployed to locate the accused dumper driver, with raids being conducted across multiple locations. Police have seized the JCB and tractor found at the site. According to reports, the dumper driver drove the vehicle towards his village, unloaded the soil, and then fled.

Three people, including JCB owner Harish Thakur, have reportedly been detained. The individual who allegedly commissioned the soil removal is also being questioned, and a forensic team has collected evidence from the scene. The ranger's body was handed over to his family following the post-mortem examination, and his last rites were performed with state honours.

Martyr Status Demand Gathers Momentum

Member of Parliament CP Joshi has publicly demanded martyr status for Pratap Singh, alongside strict action against those responsible. Additional District Magistrate Vijayesh Pandya confirmed that the request was being forwarded to the government, while District Forest Officer Suresh Agarwal said the Forest Department would also submit a formal proposal. The final decision rests with the state government.

Supporters of the demand point specifically to the circumstances of his death — while conducting an official operation against illegal mining — and to his documented record in forest and wildlife protection. Pratap Singh's name had reportedly been proposed for a state-level award in recognition of his service prior to his death.

A Career in Wildlife and Forest Protection

Pratap Singh had been posted in Chhoti Sadri for approximately two years. During that period, he was actively involved in forest protection, wildlife monitoring, and rescue operations involving tigers, leopards, pythons, and crocodiles. Colleagues described him as a skilled marksman and accomplished swimmer. Pratapgarh has a forest area of approximately 1,319 square km, placing significant enforcement responsibilities on field personnel operating across vast and difficult terrain.

A Family Left Without Support

Pratap Singh, who hailed from Amrana village in the Medi area of Chittorgarh district, was the sole breadwinner of his household. He is survived by his wife, Asha Kunwar, his 13-year-old daughter Gunjan, and his 8-year-old son Aniruddh. The family had recently endured the death of Pratap Singh's father, and his own killing has deepened both their grief and financial uncertainty. His death has drawn renewed attention to the risks borne by field-level forest officials and the resource and manpower constraints they face while carrying out enforcement duties in remote areas, often at night.

As police continue searching for the accused driver and the government weighs the martyr status demand, the incident has become a focal point for a broader conversation about the safety and institutional support available to frontline forest personnel across India.