MULUGU: Two forest officers were severely injured in an alleged attack by Guttikoyas, a tribal community, in Mulugu district on Tuesday.
On receiving information that Guttikoyas had cleared 40 hectares of forest land and started cultivation in Janagalancha forest area in Tadwai mandal, forest beat officer Balakrishna and base camp staffer Narendar Babu went to the site to stop the podu cultivation.
As they were talking to the tribals, a Guttikoya mob suddenly attacked them with sticks and stones. Somaiya Guttikoya, a tribal elder, reportedly led the attack with a stick, while the other tribals hit them with stones and sticks.
As the situation was getting out of hand, the forest staff escaped from the spot with bleeding injuries. They called up a beat forest officer, who rescued them from the Guttikoyas.
‘Challenge to protect forest land’
The officials went to the Tadwai police station and lodged a complaint. Later, the injured forest officials were shifted to Mulugu hospital for treatment.
Mulugu district forest officer Pradeep Kumar Shetty said a special team has been formed to inquire into the attack. He said it was a challenge to protect forest land from the tribals. “We are seeing an increase in the number of attacks on forest staff across the state. We have planned a meeting of the District Forest Protection Community...” he said.
