FBO arrested for extortion, threatening farmers in Adilabad

A Forest Beat Officer was arrested in Adilabad for allegedly extorting Rs 50,000 from farmers after threatening to register criminal cases over damage to an avenue plantation. Police acted after the affected farmers lodged a complaint against the official

Adilabad: A Forest Beat Officer (FBO) was arrested for allegedly extorting Rs 50,000 from farmers by threatening them at Kajjarla village in Thalamadugu mandal on Wednesday.

In a statement, Thalamadugu SI D Radhika said FBO Krishna Naik was arrested on charges of extorting the money from Jai Bharat Reddy, T Mahesh, T Narasimhulu and Yelma Raghuvaran Reddy. Naik reportedly demanded Rs 1.50 lakh by threatening to register criminal cases against them after the avenue plantation of the Forest department was accidentally burnt.

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The FBO allegedly forced the farmers to pay compensation for the damage caused to the plantation when they burned the stubble in their fields recently. He allegedly collected Rs 50,000 from the farmers as an advance.

However, the farmers mustered courage and lodged a complaint with the police. A case has been registered and investigation is underway. A police probe found Krishna Naik guilty. Police warned of stern action against public servants who abuse their power and indulge in extortion.