FOREST OFFICER HACKED TO DEATH FOR TRYING TO STOP TREE FELLING
A 47-year-old forest range officer was allegedly hacked to death by tribals on Tuesday when he tried to stop them from felling a tree plantation in the Errabodu forest under Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district, police said.
The attack on the deceased, Chandrugonda range forest officer (FRO) Chalamala Srinivas Rao, when he tried to stop a tribal group from cutting down a tree plantation to take up “podu” cultivation, said a police officer privy to details of the case.
Podu is a form of “shifting cultivation” done by tribals, where they cut trees to take up cultivation. “The irate tribals attacked the officials with sickles and axes. While some forest officials, Rao was hit on his head and neck with sharp weapons,” the officer said on condition of anonymity.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced an ex gratia of ₹50 lakh to the family of the deceased FRO.