Daijiworld Media Network – Adilabad
Adilabad, Jul 17: A special court in Telangana has convicted eight persons and acquitted 29 others in connection with the 2019 attack on Forest Department officials in Sarsla village, bringing an end to a seven-year-long legal battle.
The incident took place on June 30, 2019, when Forest Department personnel led by then Forest Range Officer Chole Anita had visited the forest area to carry out plantation activities and prevent encroachment of government forest land.
According to the prosecution, the officials faced resistance from local residents during the operation, following which a group allegedly attacked them with sticks. Anita and several other forest personnel sustained serious injuries in the attack while they were carrying out their official duties.
Police registered a case against 39 people under various sections, including rioting, criminal trespass, voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from duty, attempt to murder, unlawful assembly and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The investigation was carried out by then Kagaznagar Sub-Divisional Police Officer A Satyanarayana, who is currently serving as Regional Intelligence Officer, Warangal Region. A charge sheet was filed in 2020.
After examining more than 300 witnesses and reviewing documentary evidence during the trial, the Special SC/ST Court in Adilabad on Thursday convicted eight accused persons — Koneru Krishnarao, Buram Pocham, Pulla Sreekanth, Kotte Mallesh, Bibbara Shankar, Bibbara Rajasekhar, Buram Mallesh and Bibbara Shyamala.
The court sentenced each of them to six months of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 8,500.
The remaining 29 accused were acquitted after the court found that the evidence presented against them was insufficient to establish their involvement in the incident.
Forest Department officials welcomed the verdict, stating that it marked an important step towards justice for personnel who faced violence while protecting forest resources.
Officials said the judgment sends a strong message that attacks on government employees performing their duties will not be tolerated and highlighted the need to ensure the safety of frontline workers involved in conservation and public service.