Six huts inside Nagarahole reserve forest demolished

Madikeri, DHNS: The Forest Department personnel, with the help of the police, demolished six newly built huts belonging to members of the Jenukuruba tribal community, who have been protesting inside the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve at Karadikallu Atturukolli since May 5,  demanding the restoration of their Forest Rights on Wednesday.

A verbal altercation occurred between the staff and the tribal people on the occasion. 

ACF Ananyakumar said, “The tribals had opposed the notice issued to vacate the new huts and even prevented the staff from entering. Eventually, the huts were removed by taking an alternate route.”

Responding to the incident, Shivu, secretary of the Nagarahole Adivasi Jamma Paale Sthapana Samithi, charged, “Due to heavy rain, additional huts were built. Though we stated we would respond to the notice, over 150 police and forest staff forcibly entered and demolished the huts. Women pleaded, saying there were children inside, yet the authorities acted without any sense of humanity. Now, women and children are forced to sleep in the rain. This is a violation of the law.” 

The 52 Jenukuruba families protesting inside the forest claim that their ancestors were forcibly evicted from Karadikallu Atthurukolli. They are demanding recognition of their rights under the Forest Rights Act.