The deceased forest officer was cremated with full state honours
People raised slogans demanding that Forest Department officials who are carrying out their duties be protected.
On Wednesday, the body of deceased forest range officer Challamalla Srinivas Rao was buried in his hometown of Erlapudi village in Khammam district. Srinivas’s native village, Erlapudi, paid tribute with state honours.
Gutti Koya tribals killed FRO in Errabodu forest in Bhadradri Chandrugonda mandal over a “PODU LAND” issue. On Tuesday, a large crowd gathered in Kothagudem district for the funeral of the deceased FRO.
“We want justice,” a group of bereaved forest officials chanted, “Punish the killers of the corrupt forest officer.” During the final rites of chanting, emotions ran high. Some people renamed the forest staff “arm our forest field staff.” “What is the guarantee of our safety while protecting the forests?” slogans were heard.
Challamalla Srinivas Rao’s pyre in a solemn setting lit by his son Jeswant, 14.
The funeral was attended by Forest Minister Indrakaran Reddy, Transport Minister Ajay Kumar, Member Vaddiraju Ravichandra, Forest Department Special Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari, CMO’s Secretary Smita Sabharwal, Office OSD Priyanka Varghese, and a large number of people.
Following the funeral, some clearly distressed forest employees informed the forest minister of the field staff’s “vulnerability” to “attacks” by migrant tribals in isolated tribal areas in the former undivided Khammam district while performing their duties for forest and wildlife conservation.
Many people from the Gutti Koya tribes who migrated from Chhattisgarh were threatened during the planting project as part of the afforestation programme, according to the forest beat officer.
They were migrant tribals who threatened to kill us, and Srinivas Rao, the most diligent forest officer on duty, was a victim of their brutality while on duty. In a choked voice, he told the minister.
According to reports, the minister has assured them that the government will fully support them in carrying out their duties.
Many people have asked the government to arm the security forces because encroachers, poachers, and smugglers pose a threat to their lives. Some forest employees told reporters that the petitions had been submitted to the government.
He claimed that the government has not taken any action in any matter so far, and that if the government does not provide immediate security to forest department personnel, they will be negligent in their duties, including the survey of waste lands.