Forest watcher dies in an attack by Tamil Nadu wood-cutters at Rollabodu forest area

Kadapa: A forest protection watcher was killed, and some other policemen were injured when the red sanders woodcutters from Tamil Nadu attacked the task force police at Rollabodu forest area in Siddavatam mandal in the district on Wednesday night.

The deceased was identified as Ashok Kumar, 24, of Paktu village of Khajipet mandal. The incident came to light after the body of forest protection watcher brought to Siddavatam police station on Wednesday. Later the police shifted the body to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) on Thursday morning for post-mortem.

According to sources, when the task force police started combing in Lanka Malleswara forest, they encountered 70 red sanders woodcutters axing the precious wood in the forest.

After noticing the police, the woodcutters began pelting stones at them and attacked with knives and sharp weapons. The task force team opened fire in air when the woodcutters pelted stones on them. In an attempt to catch a woodcutter, a forest watcher Ashok Kumar sustained severe injuries in the incident.

After fierce battle, the sources said the police able to capture three persons and others were managed to escape into deep forests in the darkness. The police reluctant to disclose the names of woodcutters as it would hamper the investigation process. It is learnt the three woodcutters belonged to one family, a father and his two sons. As part of intensifying the combing operations, additional forces were rushed to Rallabodu forest.