Forest officer provided protection: Channigappa

Bangalore, Sep 8 (UNI) Karnataka Forest Minister C Channigappa today announced that special police protection has been provided to Bellary Divisional Forest Officer Rajashekaran, following the alleged threat by state Tourism Minister Sriramulu with dire consequences.

Mr Channigappa told newspersons here that he had appealed to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to extend special protection to the forest department official in the wake of threat from his cabinet colleague.

Describing the behaviour of Mr Sriramulu against the forest Department official as unfortunate, he said he had taken up the issue with Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa also.

The minister informed that after he initiated stern action during the last two years, more than 42,000 acres of encroached forest land had been recovered and grabbers were being prosecuted.

''There is still a long way to go as there are reports of encroachment of over 10,800 hectares of forest land in the state,'' he added.

He said a survey was on in the iron ore belt of Bellary to prevent illegal mining, allegedly being carried out with the support of politicians, including G Janardhana Reddy, the suspended BJP legislator of the district.

Denying that he was shielding some of the accused involved in couple of murders occurred in Nelamangala taluk, he said Congress leaders were making baseless allegations against him.

He said he would file defamation cases against both H Vishwanath and H M Revanna, former ministers.

UNI