Daijiworld Media Network - Bellary (SP)

Bellary, Nov 5: The aggression of Anantpur district forest divisional officer, Kallol Biswas, against the illegal mining activities of the Reddy brothers from Bellary in his district, seems to have put him in a spot. It is gathered that the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government has instructed him not to meddle with the affairs of Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by the Reddy brothers along with Sriramulu.

Through an order issued on October 31 this year, the chief forest conservator of Anantpur, Shivshankar Reddy, told Biswas not to interfere in this case, and to transfer all the records and files pertaining to OMC to the chief forest conservator. Biswas had issued six notices to Obalapuram Mining Company of late, relating to illegally laying road in the forest region and conducting mining activities illegally, and had taken strict action against illegal mining. He had also filed a complaint with the Anantpur district deputy commissioner and the policemen about an incident in which armed goons, reportedly let loose by OMC, had chased him out of  the mining area in vehicles. As if in retaliation, a vehicle driver had filed a case of cast abuse against Biswas. The senior officers appear to be making efforts to silence Biswas on this pretext.

There are rumours that Biswas is being transferred out of Anantapur. Biswas had not taken umbrage to the mining activities of OMC, as long as Y S Rajshekhar Reddy (YSR) was the Chief Minister of the state. It is said that Rosaiah, presently discharging duties as the Chief Minister of AP, wanted to rein in Jaganmohan Reddy, son of YSR, who is an aspirant to the CM's post, by taming the Reddys, who are close associates of YSR family.

In this background, the sudden volte face of the AP government on the issue appears to be backed by some developments, which have not yet been made known.