Tribal women clash with forest officials in Kothagudem over podu lands

The women complained that the forest officials tore their clothes; warned them that they would be evicted from the village and their houses demolished with bulldozers.

Kothagudem: A clash erupted between forest officials and tribals at Kosagumpu hamlet of Iravendi gram panchayat in Burgampadu mandal in the district on Friday.

The incident occurred when deputy forest range officer Nagaraju, beat officer Rambabu and staff went to the hamlet to dig trenches with earth movers in podu lands. Tribal women alleged that the forest officials were trying to snatch the land they had been cultivating for the past 25 years.

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The women complained that the forest officials tore their clothes; warned them that they would be evicted from the village and their houses demolished with bulldozers. The forest officials said that they were attacked by the women, who also tore their uniforms.

The residents of the hamlet later met Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateshwarlu and complained against the forest officials. The MLA assured them that he would seek justice by escalating the matter to higher authorities.