The series of protests by tribals, who were displaced by the authorities at Diddalli for the last five months, concluded on Saturday.
High drama was witnessed at Diddalli here on Saturday, when a woman tribal leader climbed a tree demanding rehabilitation at the disputed site inside Devamacchi reserve forest. G K Mutthamma, who has been leading the protest after tribals cleared from the forest land refused to accede to the decision of district administration, climbed the tree and also warned of killing herself.
As a precautionary measure, the police personnel led by the district superintendent, the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoons and the District Armed Reserve (DAR) platoons had tightened the security in Diddalli.
When the protesters refused to vacate, the forest officials and police personnel tried to forcibly send them out of the forest. Virajpet MLA K G Bopaiah who arrived on the spot, however, held a lengthy discussion with the tribal leaders and protesting tribals and convinced them to withdraw the protest. Bopaiah appealed them to leave for a 22-acre site distributed by the district administration at Byadagodtta in Somwarpet and Basavanahalli in Kushalnagar.
Finally, the tribals agreed to leave for Byadagotta in Somwarpet taluk.
Published 06 May 2017, 18:45 IST