Cong leader accuses forest officials of conniving with poachers

Mysore, Aug 10 (UNI) Former Karnataka Minister and senior Congress leader M Shivanna today accused the forest department personnel of conniving with poachers and smugglers to loot forest wealth in the H D Kote region in this district.

Talking to newspersons here, he said indiscriminate felling and smuggling of valuable timber trees and poaching of wild animals was rampant in the region on the Karnataka-Kerala border.

''Though the smugglers are doing it hand in glove with the forest department officials, the police arrested gullible tribals for these offences and foisted cases on them. They also assault the tribals to make them confess to the crimes,'' he said.

Despite the region having two Assistant Conservator of Forests and 12 range forest officers, offences were on the rise, he lamented.

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