Tension as Adivasis, police jostle before Utnoor forest office

ADILABAD: Adivasis under the banner of Thudum Debba on Friday protested in front of the forest office in Utnoor demanding action against foresters who severely beat one Kova Limbarao for collecting firewood from the forest near Nagalkonda village in Narnoor Mandal on Wednesday.

According to reports, Limbarao has been shifted from RIMS, Adilabad, to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad after his condition deteriorated.

Enraged over this, Adivasis of Nagalkonda led by Thudum Debba leaders Godam Ganesh, Kodapa Nagesh and Shyam Rao gathered in large numbers before the Utnoor forest office, where a big contingent of police had already been deployed to avoid any untoward incident.

Tension ensued as police jostled with Adivasis who tried to break the barricades and crash into the forest office.

By then, Adilabad DFO Rajashekhar had arrived and held talks with the agitators. Adivasis submitted to him a memorandum demanding Limbarao be provided best treatment at a private hospital and a forest watcher’s job be offered to a member of Limbarao family, apart from action against foresters who had beaten him up.

The Adilabad DFO promised action against the staff involved and the best treatment for Limbarao. It is claimed the officer also offered financial assistance and a job for a member of the victim's family.