C Anitha suffered bleeding injuries before other officers and police could intervene. (Screengrab)

New Delhi:

In a shocking incident, a Telangana woman forest department official was attacked with huge sticks by workers of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district over a land issue. According to reports, Forest Range Officer (FRO) C. Anita – who was leading preparations for a tree plantation drive – was attacked allegedly by people led by the brother of a TRS lawmaker.

Superintendent of Police Malla Reddy said Koneru Krishna, brother of TRS MLA Koneru Kannappa, has been arrested and booked under various sections of the IPC.

Forest department officials said that C Anitha suffered bleeding injuries before other officers and police could intervene. She was admitted to a hospital. Speaking to reporters from the hospital, Anitha alleged that Krishna first hit her with a bamboo stick, followed by the others in the group.

#WATCH Telangana: A police team & forest guards were attacked allegedly by Telangana Rashtra Samithi workers in Sirpur Kagaznagar block of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, during a tree plantation drive. (29.06.2019) pic.twitter.com/pZ0H3Qg2Ud — ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2019

The visuals – which have gone viral, show the forest officer trying to explain that they were following the instructions of the government when people attacked her with huge wooden sticks.

Officials said Anitha had gone to Sarasala village with some officials to plant saplings as part of the government's 'Haritha Haram' green initiative programme when some villagers, claiming that the land belongs to them.

Telangana Principal Chief Conservator of Forest P K Jha said the land where the officials went belonged to the forest department and the MLA was also informed about it.

He said the department would take this issue seriously "at a higher level".

"It was a forest land. I was given to understand that earlier there were some attempts to encroach it. That time our people got them vacated. It was totally under our control. There is no cultivation. His (MLAs) brother was there (during the attack)," Jha told PTI.

Kannappa could not be reached for his reactions.

With PTI Inputs

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