The Forest Department on Sunday made it clear that its employees were not involved in burning of huts of tribal people at Gadabavalasa village of Veeraghattam mandal.
In response to the allegations of human rights organisations and tribal people, Srikakulam District Forest Officer B. Vijaya Kumar said that the land belonged to the Revenue Department and there was no need for the Forest Department to resort to forceful eviction of the tribal people by burning their huts.
According to him, several persons involved in the encroachment of tribal land in other areas in the district were booked on various charges ten days ago. They tried to mislead people on the issue, he added.
