26 tribals arrested for encroachment in Kawal Tiger Reserve core

Forest officials arrested 26 tribals from Kumram Bheem Asifabad district for allegedly encroaching into the core area of Kawal Tiger Reserve by erecting huts and felling trees in Indanapalli Range. Officials said they ignored repeated warnings and were not podu farmers.

Mancherial: Twenty-six persons from Kumram Bheem Asifabad district were arrested by Jannaram division Forest officials for allegedly encroaching into the core area of Kawal Tiger Reserve by setting up huts and felling trees in Indanapalli Range on Saturday night.

In a press statement, Jannaram Forest Division officials said that despite repeated warnings and counselling, the accused continued to occupy forest land in the core area. They clarified that the arrested were not podu farmers and warned that stringent action would be taken against anyone hindering wildlife conservation by encroaching forest land.

---

Some of the accused were identified as Parchaki Maru, Kanaka Bapu Rao, Thodasam Hanumanth Rao, Athram Akbar, Vedma Jivith Rao, Kanaka Manku, Athram Bheem Rao, Soyam Chathrugam, Sidam Mothiram, Parubaki Maruthi, Madavi Somoji, among others. They belonged to different parts of Lingapur, Sirpur (U) and Narnoor mandals of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.