Tribals Allege Mistreatment By Forest Dept, Decry Eviction Move

Forest personnel allegedly torched the tribals huts in a bid to evict them from the farm land

- R Siva Kumar

TRIBALS dwelling atop Palampattu hills in Vellore district have alleged excesses by the Forest department personnel and accused them of torching huts in a bid to evict them from farmland. They have also sought the top authorities of the government in the district to take appropriate action and necessary steps for providing them patta under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

Since the applications for patta submitted by 34 tribesmen living in Chinnoor atop Palampattu hills were rejected, the Forest department personnel belonging to Amirthi Range visited the hamlet recently and cautioned the men not to farm without patta.