The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has alleged that the Forest Department personnel of Thallada forest range destroyed 30 huts of Gutti Koya people of Medepalli village in Enkoor mandal on January 27 disregarding the reported order of the High Court to maintain status quo and not to dispossess the Adivasis from the village.
A fact finding committee of the HRF headed by V S Krishna, general secretary, HRF, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States, visited Medepalli village on Saturday.
Talking to mediapersons after interacting with the aggrieved Gutti Koya tribal people of the village, Mr Krishna alleged that the Forest personnel concerned were trying to forcibly drive away Gutti Koya tribal people from Medepalli.
Stating that Adivasis of Gutti Koya community have been residing in the village since 15 years, he alleged that two bore wells dug up by a non-governmental organisation in the village were destroyed during the raid on the village on January 27.
He said the Telangana government should see to it that the Forest department personnel functioned within the ambit of law.
The Gutti Koyas of Medepalli, who have been residing in the village for over one and half decade, be given title deeds for the lands being tilled by them, as per the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, he said. S K Khadar Baba, vice-president, HRF, A P and Telangana States, and others were present.
