Telugu Desam, Jana Sena Workers’ Clash in Anakapalli Over Felling of Trees
Violence erupts in Anakapalli village over use of government land
Visakhapatnam: Workers of ruling coalition partners Telugu Desam and Jana Sena clashed violently over the felling of acacia trees on government land in Pedamadina village of Buchayyapeta mandal in Anakapalli district.
According to sub-inspector A. Srinivas Rao, activists of both the parties threw stones and attacked each other with lathis, resulting in injuries to four individuals. The clash came under control once police rushed to the spot. A police picket has been set up at the place to prevent any further clashes.
The focus of the dispute is 40 acres of government land in survey number 81. Acacia saplings had been planted on the land 15 years ago as part of a Social Forestry initiative. Recently, the Forest department handed over the trees to the local panchayat, with permission to cut and sell the trees and use the amount received for development projects.
Acting on this, sarpanch Kolimella Venkataramana, a Jana Sena leader, reportedly hired labourers and started felling the trees 10 days ago. The area’s TD leader Viyyapu Apparao objected to the felling and filed a complaint with revenue officials. Apparao insisted that the felling be conducted through a public auction to ensure transparency.
Following tahsildar Lakshmi’s orders in this regard, police halted the tree cutting.
This led to convening of a Grama Sabha to resolve the issue. During the meeting, Jana Sena members argued that selling timber would generate funds for development. However, TD representatives warned that cutting trees could lead to encroachment of the government land on which the trees had been planted. Heated arguments soon escalated into physical violence.
The injured workers have been identified as Viyyapu Devi, Viyyapu Chiranjeevi, Viyyapu Ramu, and Avala Apparao. The area Public Health Centre provided first aid to the injured before shifting them to the NTR Hospital in Anakapalli.
Anakapalli DSP M. Sravani and circle inspector Koteswara Rao later summoned leaders of both parties to the Butchayyapeta police station for counselling.