Daijiworld Media Network—Beltangady (RD/CN)
 
Beltangady, Jan 28: The house of a tribal situated on encroached forest land was demolished by the forest department at Ballmanja, near here, on Wednesday January 26, at a time when the incident wherein six houses of forest dwellers were demolished at Naiguri – Sulkeri by the forest department is just cooling-off.

The forest department had demolished the dwelling of Monappa Malekudiya residing in Macchina village, near here, on Wednesday.  The forest department took this extreme action after receiving an anonymous call when Monappa was in the process of constructing a full-scale building on the same plot where a hutment was erected six years ago.
 
Monappa has lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner (DC) against the forest department since he had applied for legalizing the encroachment under Forest Act of 2005 -06.
 
The taluk unit of CPI (M) condemned the act of the forest department and urged the district administration to take disciplinary action against the erring forest officials.
 
Meanwhile, the forest range conservator has clarified that it has carried out the demolition as it does not allow any more encroachment on the lands under its jurisdiction.