Forest staff assn seek punitive action against attackers

The Forest Staff Association (FSA) here today urged Tamil Nadu Government to take stringent and punitive action against those who attacked forest officials in the backdrop of killing of a woman by a tiger in the district.
This was a preplanned attack on forest officials by those who have "encroached" the forest land and also the elephant corridor in Gudalur and Mudumalai areas, FSA President T Ilangovan alleged at a press conference here.
Moreover, the district and police delayed action against the mob, who burnt forest jeeps and ransacked the office, Ilangovan, said after a meeting of the association, in which about 80 members participated.

Angry villagers of Pattavayal allegedly assaulted two forest officials and ransacked the office, a day after a 30-year old woman tea estate worker was mauled to death by a tiger.
On continuing man-animal conflicta, Ilangovan said the association had long back submitted a memorandum to the Government to constitute a special force to prevent and tackle such conflicts.
This alone can achieve and bring down the incidents, he said.