Yet another woman forest official attacked in Telangana

Hyderabad: In yet another incident of forest officials becoming victims to attacks from people, a beat office, Swapna, was attacked by a group of farmers in Mancherial district of Telangana. Firstly, the farmers threw chilli powder into the official’s eyes and attacked her with sticks, badly injuring her.

Police immediately rushed Swapna to a government hospital at Bellampalli. Five months ago, a mob led by a TRS MLA’s brother attacked another female forest officer, Chole Anitha, in the neighbouring Komaram Bheem district. Anitha, along with her team, was planting saplings as part of the government’s ‘Haritha Haram’ green initiative.

On Tuesday morning, Swapna, along with her team, were clearing a government land at Kottapally village of Nennel Mandal, which is reportedly encroached land. They were clearing the mango plantation, when a group of farmers who claimed ownership over the area, suddenly pounced on the officials and attacked them.

With chilli powder and sticks in their hands, the villagers attacked the officials and beat them black and blue. After severely injuring the authorities, the attackers immediately fled the spot. Police rushed to the place and shifted the injured to a government hospital. Meanwhile, the investigators registered cases under relevant charges of IPC against the farmers.

Ramagundam Police Commissioner, V Satyanarayana, took stock of the situation and directed police to make necessary security arrangements for clearing the encroached lands in sensitive areas.