Adilabad: Adivasis staged a protest at Indhanpalli in Mancherial district on Monday, alleging that forest officials assaulted five Adivasi youths who were fishing in a stream inside the Kawal Tiger Reserve.
They, in particular, sought action against forest range officer Laxminarayana.
The protesters said the incident occurred on Sunday night, when forest personnel took the youths into custody from near a stream close to Indhanpalli village. Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju visited the protest site and expressed solidarity with the agitators.
The youths were later released by forest officials.
Adivasi organisations also staged a protest at Jannaram and lodged a police complaint, seeking action against the errant officials. They said the forest staff took the youths into custody, moved them to different locations and assaulted them. A video showing forest personnel beating the youths was circulated in social media.
The protesters and the MLA called upon the forest department to take action against the errant officers within 24 hours, warning that they would otherwise intensify their agitation.
Vedma Bojju alleged that some forest officials, including FDPT for the Kawal Tiger Reserve S Santharam, were harassing adivasis by imposing restrictions on them. He said their protest was against certain officials and not the department.
In a separate development, residents of Udumpur gram panchayat in Kadam mandal announced a non-cooperation movement against local forest staff and their families. A gram sabha resolution resolved not to provide drinking water, electricity or other essential services to the forest personnel working in the village.
The villagers alleged that local FRO Srinivas Reddy, Khanapur FDO Shivakumar and other officials were harassing tribal and non-tribal farmers cultivating podu lands and obstructing road works, agricultural activities and the construction of the Indiramma houses.
The villagers also demanded withdrawal of cases registered against 17 residents of Udumpur and Dongachintha villages in connection with podu land cultivation.
Thudum Debba state president Godam Ganesh extended support to the affected youths and demanded action against FRO Laxminarayana.
Meanwhile, adivasi and non-tribal residents have formed a joint action committee comprising representatives of political parties and social organisations to oppose the restrictions and harassment by forest officials.
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