A video of Congress MLA for Bhadravathi B.K. Sangameshwar threatening to chop off the limbs of a Deputy Range Forest Officer over the construction of a temple has gone viral.
After performing the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the temple in Kudligere village located on the fringes of the Bhadravathi Range Forest on December 31, Mr. Sangameshwar called up an acquaintance of Deputy Range Forest Officer Dinesh.
During the telephonic conversation, Mr. Sangameshwar expressed displeasure that the officer was causing obstacles for constructing the temple. After threatening to chop off the officer’s limbs if he intervened in the issue, the MLA also hurled abuses at him.
Soon after the video went viral, Mr. Sangameshwar expressed regret over his remarks.
Expresses regret
Speaking to presspersons, he said: “The land on which the temple is being constructed does not belong to the Forest Department. It is a revenue land reserved for community use. As the forest official was obstructing the temple construction work, I spoke in a fit of emotion. I regret the wrong choice of words.”
Incidents of forest officials facing the wrath of people and elected representatives while executing their duty are being reported regularly in the district.
A Range Forest Officer serving in Ripponpet was threatened and abused by the residents of Masrur village during a protest conducted to condemn the death of a farmer while clearing encroachment of forestland in November 2018. The RFO was later transferred owing to the pressure exerted by elected representatives.
