Telangana forest department employees on Thursday boycotted the ongoing 'Podu' (forest) land survey as a mark of protest against the killing of a forest range officer Srinivasa Rao by Gutti Koya tribals two days ago.
The Telangana Junior Forest Officers Association, Telangana Forest Rangers Association, and other organisations have agreed to boycott the survey and gram sabhas held to resolve applications for pattas for 'podu' lands.
Leaders of the various forest associations have organised major rallies at district headquarters in Khammam and Kothagudem demanding forest officials to be provided with guns besides setting up forest stations at divisional level for their safety.
Chalamala Srinivasa Rao, 42, of Chandrugonda Forest Range Officer (FRO) was attacked and killed by tribals claiming ownership of "podu lands".
The Gutti Koya tribe attacked him with sharp-edged weapons at Yerrabodu in the Bendalapadu forest area. The incident occurred when the officer tried to stop them from cutting down plantations taken up by the Forest Department.
Podu lands are the forest lands under cultivation by tribals and non-tribal forest dwellers. A rift between the cultivators and the forest department over the right and use of the land has existed for a while. In recent years, plantations undertaken by the forest department on such lands have led to clashes between the two sides.
On Thursday, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expressed shock and sorrow over the death of frorest range officer Srinivasa Rao and announced an ex gratia of Rs 50 lakh to the family of the deceased FRO.
The Chief Minister directed DGP Mahender Reddy to take legal course of action and ensure the culprits are given stringent punishment.
The Chief Minister instructed the officials to extend full salary to the FRO's family as per the rules and regulations under which the officials on the duty are paid and provide salary to the family members until retirement age. On compassionate grounds, CM KCR announced a government job to an eligible family member of the deceased.
(With inputs from ABP Desam — It is a Telugu platform of ABP News. For more news, commentary and latest happenings from two Telugu states, follow https://telugu.abplive.com//amp)