THANE: Several unions of employees affiliated to the forest department on Tuesday condemned the ink and ash attack on the chief conservator of forests (Thane) by Shiv Sena workers over the burning of 70,000 saplings near Ambernath. Unions sought the prosecution of MP Shrikant Shinde , who had led the group on Monday.Shinde later distanced himself from the attack on Rajendra Kadam, an Indian Forest Service official.“This could be a wellplanned attack as I was only aware that a delegation would be coming to meet me,” Kadam said. “The police will investigate it further.”The forest employees accused the police of shielding the attackers, which comprised both men and women. Hundreds of forest employees wore a black band in protest, seeking invoking of Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) of the IPC.The Maharashtra State Forest Guards and Promoted Foresters Union gave a letter to DCP (zone 5) Avinash Ambure seeking an unbiased inquiry and stringent action by December 2, failing which they would call a strike.The Indian Forest Service Association and Forest Rangers Association demanded Shinde be prosecuted. The IFS Association wrote to the chief secretary, urging him to direct authorities to prosecute Shinde.( Inputs from Nagpur)

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