Attack on Adivasi women snowballs into controversy as BRS slams Congress for ‘reign of terror’

Adivasi women in Burgampadu mandal have alleged that they were assaulted by Forest officials while sowing seeds on podu lands, sparking outrage; BRS condemns Congress government, accusing it of endangering women’s safety and labelling its rule a ‘reign of terror’

Kothagudem/Hyderabad: The alleged assault on Adivasi women by Forest officials at Iravendi village in Burgampadu mandal on Friday has snowballed into a major controversy, with the women lodging a police complaint and the BRS slamming the Congress government, accusing it of unleashing a ‘reign of terror’.

According to the complainant, Madakam Sunitha, she and 11 other women were sowing cotton seeds in their podu lands when Forest officials, identified as Nagaraju, Rambabu and others, arrived to dig trenches. When questioned by the women, the officials allegedly beat them with hands and sticks, tore the clothes of one woman, Kunjam Jogamma, and attempted to molest them.

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Sunitha said the women pleaded with the officials not to harass them, explaining that they had been cultivating the land for over 25 years and had no other livelihood. She urged the police to take action against the named officials, claiming the adivasi families were facing threats to their lives.

As per reports, the incident took place when Deputy Forest Range Officer Nagaraju, beat officer Rambabu and other staff arrived with earthmovers to dig trenches on the disputed podu lands. The tribal women alleged that the officials were trying to forcibly take away the land they had been farming for decades and had threatened to demolish their homes with bulldozers. The Forest Department, however, claimed that its staff were attacked by the women, who tore their uniforms.

Following the incident, residents of the hamlet had met Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateshwarlu on Friday itself and complained to him against the Forest officials.

Reacting sharply, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday condemned the assault and blamed the Congress government, accusing it of failing to protect the dignity of women. He also referred to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s earlier controversial remarks in the Assembly, where he allegedly spoke about “stripping women” who questioned authority.

Calling the Congress regime a ‘reign of terror’, Rama Rao demanded to know the stand of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge on the issue of women’s safety and respect in Telangana.