Report sought in Burgampadu incident: Forest Minister Surekha

The victims in their complaint said they were sowing cotton seeds in their podu lands when Forest officials, identified as Nagaraju, Rambabu and others, arrived to dig trenches. When questioned by them, the officials allegedly thrashed them with hands and sticks, tore the clothes of a woman identified as Kunjam Jogamma, and attempted to molest them.

Kothagudem: Forest Minister Konda Surekha said that she would seek a report from the district forest and revenue officials on the recent clash between foresters and tribals at Kosagumpu village in Iravendi forest beat in Burgampadu mandal in the district.

In a statement to the media on Wednesday she said when women sat in the way of the JCB to prevent it from digging trenches, the forest officials tried to convince the women. In this process, an argument broke out between the tribal women and the forest officials.

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Minister for Women and Child Welfare Anasuya Seethakka also spoke to Minister Surekha on the phone and the latter assured her that further action would be taken after receiving the report.

The victims in their complaint said they were sowing cotton seeds in their podu lands when Forest officials, identified as Nagaraju, Rambabu and others, arrived to dig trenches. When questioned by them, the officials allegedly thrashed them with hands and sticks, tore the clothes of a woman identified as Kunjam Jogamma, and attempted to molest them.

Madakam Sunitha, one of the complainants, 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.