In a disturbing turn of events, a Forest Range Officer (FRO), a section officer, and two other staff members of the forest department were injured in an attack by local villagers at Kalpole forest area under Mugpal mandal in Nizamabad district.
The altercation arose when villagers were discovered ploughing the land with a tractor in the forest area. Upon being informed, Forest Range Officer K Radhika, a section officer, and three beat officers rushed to intervene. Accompanied by a police constable, they attempted to halt the villagers’ activities.
However, tensions escalated as the locals claimed ownership of the land and insisted on continuing their ploughing. When forest officials intervened, a group of 40 to 50 villagers descended upon the scene and launched a violent assault. FRO Radhika was targeted, with her hand being twisted, but was rescued by her colleagues.
Section officer Sai Krishna also sustained injuries to his right hand from stone pelting. Additionally, two beat officers were roughed up during the confrontation. The disputed land, spanning 39 hectares, belongs to the forest department and was designated for plantation in 2021. Despite official ownership, there have been ongoing attempts by locals to encroach upon the land.
Forest officials have filed a complaint with local police, prompting an investigation. This incident is not isolated, as similar encroachment attempts have been thwarted by forest officials in the past.
