Forest officials manhandled

Construction of resort had come in for criticism by environmentalists

Forest Officers Govindaiah and Krishnaiah were hurt in the incident and were admitted to a private hospital in Ramnagaram.

The decision of Ananthara Resorts, a hospitality company, to develop a commercial resort at the place belonging to the State Forest Department had come in for sharp criticism form nature activists and environmentalists.
Later, the forest officials lodged a complaint with the Ramanagaram Deputy Commissioner who, however, issued a green signal for the project after looking into the matter.

But, the Forest Department questioned the DC's decision and petitioned the High Court. The Company, however, moved ahead with the construction work in the morning.
Protesting this, forest officials came forward to stall it but were allegedly manhandled by the construction staff. A few Dalit organisations, however, have supported the project.

Fire mishap
Materials worth around Rs one lakh were destroyed when a tyre retreading unit caught fire in Hoskerehalli on Sunday. Four fire tenders and 30 firemen rushed to the spot and took nearly one hour to put off the fire.

Fire Force officials said Ramesh Tyres, a two-storeyed building, located in Ganapathinagar on Hosakerehalli main road stored manufacturing materials and containers containing petrol on the ground floor with the first floor having rest room for workers.
The workers noticed thick smoke and flames in the first floor around 10.30 am and alerted the fire officials.

The firemen brought the fire under control before it could spread to the ground floor.
Things would have turned tragic had the fire spread to ground floor where inflammable materials, including petrol, were stored. The owner had stored the materials illegally without taking permission and has violated fire safety measures, officials added. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Three injured in clash
Three persons sustained severe injuries when a group of miscreants attacked them at Jai Bheemanagar in Madivala on Saturday.
The injured - Dinesh, Monish and Shashi are battling for life at a private hospital, said the Madivala police.

Eight persons were arrested on Sunday in connection with the incident, including the prime suspect Ramachandra, added the police.

Enmity
Dinesh and his friends were busy with the construction work on Sunday when  Ramachandra and his associates came in an auto and attacked Dinesh and others with lethal weapons. Enmity is said to be the cause for the attack.
DH News Service