A farmer who tried to cultivate and encroach on forest land in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) was arrested here late on Friday night.
On 13 September, personnel from the Vilamundi Forest Range in the Sathyamangalam Division, during their patrol, removed trees on two acres, and plowed the land for cultivation in the Otrai Panai Markadu area. During interrogation, it was found that P. Logan of the same area had occupied the land. When forest personnel tried to arrest Logan, the villagers protested and gathered in large numbers. Later Logan went into hiding.
On Friday, officials received information that Logan was at his home. A team led by Vilamundi forest ranger in-charge Sengottaiyan attempted to arrest Logan but he tried to escape. The team caught him and took him to the range office. Later, he was produced in a court in Sathyamangalam on Saturday and lodged in the sub-jail at Sathyamangalam. The personnel said that cases related to hunting of deer, intimidation of officials and possession of weapons without license are pending against him.
But, the Tamil Nadu Tribal People Association said that Logan did farming in the water-spread area of the Bhavanisagar reservoir, which people have been doing for generations. A release issued by the association said people used to cultivate in the watershed areas of Manalmedu, Otrai Panai Markadu, Budhikuppam, Pudukadu and JJ Nagar when the water level in the reservoir was low. “However, Logan was attacked and dragged away by forest department personnel,” the release said.
But, forest officials said, the accused removed Usil (Albizia amara) and Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) trees on the land located near the watershed area and booked under various sections of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882. Is.