Tribals block traffic in Nirmal, demand action against forest officials

Tribals in Nirmal continued their second day of protest at Pembi, demanding action against forest officials accused of beating shepherds. The officials denied the allegations, claiming the protest followed efforts to prevent tribals from constructing Indiramma houses on forest land.

Nirmal: Tribals continued their rasta-roko demanding action against forest officials for allegedly beating shepherds at Pembi for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

The agitating tribals alleged that forest officials were harassing shepherds for grazing cattle on the fringes of the forest. They regretted that alternative grazing lands had not been provided to feed their sheep and cows. They demanded that the government take stern action against the officials for targeting the shepherds.

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Forest officials denied the allegations. They accused the tribals of occupying forest land to construct Indiramma houses. They said the protests began after the tribals were prevented from building houses on forest land. The officials clarified that they had not beaten any shepherd.