Tribals protest forest officials’ harassment in Mancherial

Tribal residents of Dandepalli mandal in Mancherial staged a protest outside the Forest Range Officer’s office, alleging harassment through false cases over land cultivation near Dammannapet and Mamidigudem villages. They demanded withdrawal of cases and raised concerns over missing family members.

Mancherial: Tribals staged a sit-in outside the Forest Range Officer’s office at Dandepalli mandal centre on Sunday, alleging that officials were harassing them by filing false cases.

They accused forest officials of implicating them in false cases for cultivating lands on the fringes of Dammannapet and Mamidigudem villages. The protesters said they had been farming these lands for several years and were losing their livelihoods as officials were reclaiming the land, citing wildlife protection.

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The villagers demanded that forest officials withdraw the cases immediately and allow them to live peacefully. They also claimed that their family members were missing and warned that the agitation would be intensified if the department continued to target them.