The State government on Sunday ordered an inquiry into the felling of trees in Pembi forest range in Nirmal Division of Adilabad district to identify the culprits and those who instigated the villagers to go on a rampage in the jungles.
A team of officials headed by Chief Conservator of Forests (Vigilance) Swargam Srinivas and Adilabad Conservator of Forests T.P. Thimma Reddy visited the area where the large scale felling took place.
The inquiry was to ascertain the facts related with the number of trees which were cut and the reasons for doing so. Cases have already been booked against villagers whose names have come up during preliminary inquiries made by forest officials in the division and arrests are likely to follow after the inquiry by the team in question.
It may be recalled that villagers felled over 700 trees in a 6 km stretch in the Pembi forest range in Khanapur mandal on the nights of January 21 and 24.
