Patna, April 18: Good work deserves praise not punishment. But Niranjan Kumar, a resident of Khagaria district, has been suffering for planting trees. Police allegedly are harassing him for his noble work.

Today, Niranjan shared his agony with chief minister Nitish Kumar at his darbar.

Niranjan said: “Sir, I have been planting trees for more than 20 years. I have received letters from the President and the governor of Bihar praising my work. But some criminals destroy my plants regularly. When I complained to the police, they beat me up and put me behind the bars.”

He said: “Sir, why am I being harassed for planting trees? Am I not allowed to plant trees? The people jealous of my hard work want to destroy my trees and the police are helping them.” Niranjan told Nitish: “I have lost all hope and you are the only man who can save me.”

Hearing Niranjan’s plea, Nitish asked inspector-general (administration) J.S. Gangwar to look into the matter.

Gangwar told The Telegraph: “I have called the Khagaria superintendent of police and have asked him to look into the matter. A proper investigation will be conducted. We are sure Niranjan will not complain about the police atrocities again. As far as planting trees are concerned, I have come to know that the site where Niranjan plants trees belongs to the railway and according to his demand he wants to continue with his drive. Let us see what we can do.”