Adilabad: Adivasis and non-tribals in Khanapur Assembly constituency on Tuesday warned of launching a non-cooperation movement against forest officials and their families, alleging harassment in the name of forest protection.

They alleged that forest officials were seizing tractors, preventing the construction of Indiramma houses and obstructing development works, including road laying and installation of electricity poles in their villages.

“The agitation would be intensified if the harassment continued.”

The adivasis claimed there were no tigers in the Kawal Tiger Reserve and questioned the restrictions imposed on local residents.

An Adivasi from Middechintha village in Kadam mandal said a senior forest official threatened to remove a cement concrete road laid in the village by using a JCB.

The villagers questioned how development could take place when they were allegedly being denied roads, electricity and housing despite residing in the area for several years.

Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju alleged that some forest officials were harassing Adivasis and non-tribals in the name of forest conservation and tiger protection. He said forest personnel mocked him while they were questioning some Adivasi youths who were taken into custody on a charge of fishing inside the Kawal Tiger Reserve. He said, “They asked them, Where is your tiger (MLA) and will it come to save you?”

Bojju said he was not opposed to the state government but to officials harassing local communities. He urged the forest department to resolve the grievances of adivasis and non-tribals instead of escalating tensions.

The harassment charges were raised against officials of the Jannaram, Khanapur, Dandepalli, Kadam, Udumpur, Dimmadurthy and Indhanpalli forest ranges, as well as Jannaram forest divisional officer Rammohan, who were allegedly acting under the directions of field director of Project Tiger, S Santaram.