TRS MLA Tells Villagers to Accuse Forest Officials of Hitting Them

TRS MLA Tells Villagers to Accuse Forest Officials of Hitting Them


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Following the attack on a woman forest official in Telangana while she was discharging her duties, TRS MLA Koneru Konappa has been caught on camera, trying to convince villagers to allegedly


twist the version of what actually happened.


On Sunday, a forest range officer was attacked in Sarasala of Khagajnagar in Telangana's Asifabad district, by a mob led by Koneru Krishna Rao who is local Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)


leader and Zilla Parishad Vice Chairman. The official was hit with sticks repeatedly and sustained injuries to her head. Hours after the incident sparked a row in the state, a video has


surfaced from Khagajnagar, that shows the MLA telling local residents to twist Sunday’s episode.


“Tell the media that they have beaten us 15 days back, and now also they’ve beaten us,” he says. According to local sources, he was referring to an incident around two weeks ago where


residents and forest officials got into an argument. However, he was telling the villagers to exaggerate, as there was no violence from either side that day, the source said.


“I will call the reporters. You should all tell them this one by one," the MLA says.


Krishna was arrested along with 12 others as a case was registered under Sections 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (Voluntarily causing


hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 307 (Attempt to murder), 147 (Rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 427 (Mischief causing damage), 507 (Criminal intimidatio), 509


(Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC.


Taking note of the incident, Telangana police authorities have placed Khagajnagar DySP and Rural CI under suspension on the charges of negligence in discharge of duties.


In a fresh development, forest authorities on Monday went and carried out a planting drive, that is currently underway amidst heavy police security in the contentious land.


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