Haridwar: A video clip of drunk forest guards — deployed in Rajaji National Park in Haridwar — dancing with a girl to the beats of a popular Hindi number went viral on Wednesday.The video believed to be shot inside the forest sometime in the night a few days ago raised several eyebrows as loud music and drinking are both banned inside the forest, and the video shows those responsible for enforcing these rules themselves breaking them.Forest officials, meanwhile, have refrained from commenting on the matter saying that the authenticity of the video is being examined. An investigation has, however, been ordered into the matter.While most forest officials denied any such video, some said that it was shot outside the reserve area and no rules were flouted. They said that the girl in the video is the daughter of a forest guard and the incident took place during a private party.Rajaji Tiger Reserve director Sanatan Sonkar said, “Nothing is wrong with the video as everybody has the right to organize a party and celebrate. As far as I know the party was hosted on New Year’s Eve in the residential quarter in Chilawali range near Mohand. The quarters are located outside the reserve forest area and music can be played there. The girl seen in the video is the daughter of a forest guard and her family members were also present among others. Nobody has the right to tarnish the image of a girl without verifying the facts. Still, we are investigating the matter and are trying to find out who leaked the video. If anybody is found guilty, action will be taken accordingly.”The video shows a person in forest guard uniform dancing with a girl and others in the dead of the night in an inebriated condition. Playing loud music, drinking and smoking is banned in the reserve forest areas of the state.Registrar of Gurukul Kangri University and senior bird specialist Dr Dinesh Bhatt said, “Any kind of loud music or even bursting of crackers has a negative impact on animals and birds. Animals get scared and start behaving in a different manner which affects their health in the long run. Such activities are banned in the reserve areas. If forest guards, who are responsible in keeping a tab on these things, flout the rules then what else can be expected from them.”

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