Tension prevails as tribals, Forest officials clash in Mancherial

In Mancherial, tribals clashed with Forest officials after huts were dismantled and crops destroyed on 80 acres of alleged encroached land within Kawal Tiger Reserve. Sixteen women were detained, and media personnel protested restrictions on covering the conflict.

Mancherial: Tension prevailed for a while when tribals clashed with Forest officials after their huts were dismantled and standing cotton and other crops raised on about 80 acres of forest land between Dammannapet and Mamiduguda villages in Dandepalli mandal were destroyed on Saturday.

A large team of Forest officials reached the disputed land, which falls within Kawal Tiger Reserve and is alleged to have been encroached upon by tribals. Using three earth movers, they dismantled huts and cleared crops. The officials maintained that the occupation was affecting conservation of wild animals, particularly tigers.

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On learning of the demolition, tribals confronted the officials, accusing them of razing their huts and destroying crops. They also alleged that officials had assaulted women and detained 16 of them with police support. The tribals charged that both men and women were branded as criminals and subjected to harassment.

The incident came a day after three Forest officials were assaulted by tribals while attempting to reclaim a separate patch of land in the same area. Following that clash, the officials had lodged a complaint with police, leading to registration of a case against the tribals and subsequent investigation.

Meanwhile, media persons staged a sit-in protesting against forest officials for preventing them from covering the conflict.