23. Persons bound to assist Forest-officer and Police-officer.
- Every person who exercises any right in a reserved forest, or who is permitted to take any forest produce from, or to cut and remove timber or to pasture cattle in, such forest; andevery person who is employed by any such person in such forest; and every village-officer or person in any village contiguous to such forest who is employed by the Government;shall be bound to furnish without unnecessary delay to the nearest Forest Officer or Police Station House-Officer any information he may possess respecting the occurrence of a fire in or near such forest or the commission of, or intention to commit any forest offence; and shall assist any Forest-Officer or Police Officer demanding his aid-(a)in extinguishing any fire occurring in such forest;(b)in preventing any fire which may occur in the vicinity of such forest from spreading to such forest;(c)in preventing the commission in such forest of any forest offence; and(d)when there is reason to believe that any such offence has been committed in such forest in discovering and arresting the offender.
