FOREST OFFICIALS FACE WRATH OF VILLAGERS;

Madikeri August 1, 2007

Forest officials at South Kodagu yesterday faced the wrath of villagers for harassing planters with cases.

ACFO Nagarajachar, RFOs Achappa and Gajanana Bhat were rounded up by villagers at Balele yesterday.

The officials enraged the planters by attempting to shift even branches of trees which had fallen due to rainfall and yet registered cases against them.

A planter, A.T.Belliappa had suffered huge loss with fallen trees damaging his coffee estate at Kainati at Balele. Hundreds of coffee and pepper plants were destroyed in the monsoon calamity. He was shifting the branches to one place to clean the estate and officials threatened to book case against him. Similar incidents were reported from many other estates also and it enraged planters.

They demanded that the DFO visits the spot and settles the issue. The officials pleaded helplessness as the law does not permit planters to cut trees from unredeemed lands.

Kanders uresh, who had won a legal battle in a similar case against officials, said that they have no authority to seize the trees and they should get permission from the court.

Planters lost temper as the officials repeated that they cannot cut trees even for fire wood purpose. They cautioned officials that severe protest would begin if they begin to book cases against the planters even for trees uprooted during heavy rain fall.

The officials were allowed to leave the place after they promised to discuss the issue with their higher ups.

FIELD OFFICERS DEATH TAKES NEW TWIST;

Death of a field officer in a TATA coffee estate took a new turn with the family members and Vipra Yuva Sanga claiming that it was a murder.

A field officer Vasu died under suspicious circumstances at his residence recently and it was considered as suicide in the beginning. But a letter in the pocket of the deceased revealed that he was continuously harassed by the estate manger Poovaiah, Roshan and a watchman Suresh. Vasu considered as the best staff with a mild nature was harassed by the trio to cover up their misdeeds they said in a press conference. Suresh had threatened to kill Vasu on the said day by wielding a bill hook.

Police have arrested Suresh and did not arrest the other two budging to political pressure, they charged. A COD enquiry is urged by the family and office bearers of Vipra Yuva Sanga.