Minister for forests and environment Konda Surekha on Wednesday issued a strict warning to people attacking forest department staff and officials and said the government will take stringent action against such persons.
Surekha was reacting to an incident in the Illendu forest division in Bhadradri Kothagudem district where some people illegally transporting sand from the forest tried to run over with their tractor trailer forest
staff who tried to stop them.
Calling the incident an attempt to murder, the Forests minister condemned the incident and ordered an investigation into the incident. She told senior forest department officials to ensure that such incidents do not recur, and called on department staff working in the field to be alert to threats, and reach out to her if they need any assistance.