New Delhi: Seven years after a violent attack on Forest Department personnel in Telangana, a Special SC/ST Court in Adilabad has convicted eight people and acquitted 29 others, bringing a prolonged legal battle to a close.
The case dates back to June 30, 2019, when Forest Department officials led by then Forest Range Officer Chole Anita visited the forest area in Sarsala village to carry out plantation work and prevent encroachment on government forest land. The operation reportedly sparked tension with local residents, following which a group allegedly attacked the officials with sticks, seriously injuring Anita and several members of the forest team while obstructing them from performing their official duties.
Following the incident, police registered a case against 39 individuals on charges including rioting, unlawful assembly, criminal trespass, voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants from discharging their duties, attempt to murder and offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation concluded with the filing of a charge sheet in 2020.
After examining more than 300 witnesses and reviewing documentary evidence during the lengthy trial, the Special Court found eight accused guilty. The convicted persons are Koneru Krishnarao, Buram Pocham, Pulla Sreekanth, Kotte Mallesh, Bibbara Shankar, Bibbara Rajasekhar, Buram Mallesh and Bibbara Shyamala.
Each of the eight convicts has been sentenced to six months of simple imprisonment and fined ₹8,500. The remaining 29 accused were acquitted after the court ruled that the evidence presented against them was insufficient to establish guilt.
Forest Department officials welcomed the verdict, describing it as an important milestone in securing justice after years of legal proceedings. They said the judgment reinforces the principle that attacks on government employees performing official duties will be dealt with firmly and highlights the need to protect frontline personnel engaged in conserving forests and safeguarding public resources.
