Tension erupts in Adilabad district after forest officials raid village

Tension flared in Keshavpatnam village under Ichoda mandal in the district on Sunday when villagers reportedly attacked Forest officials and vandalised a vehicle following the seizure of timber logs. The incident occurred after forest personnel conducted a cordon-and-search operation in response to reports of illegal timber stockpile in the area. During the operation, teakwood logs were confiscated from several homes.
As the officials began seizing the logs, some villagers became angry, assaulting the forest staff and damaging their vehicle. Forest officer Jadav Naishilal suffered minor injuries in the altercation.
Police from Ichoda and nearby areas quickly arrived to control the situation and calm the agitated villagers. The area was subsequently placed under heavy security.
Keshavpatnam, located in the Adilabad district, has long been associated with timber smuggling, a major source of income for many residents. Forest inspection teams had been alerted to the large quantities of timber being stockpiled in the village, prompting the search operation.
During the search, villagers accused the officers of unlawfully entering their homes and behaving rudely, which they claimed led to the violent confrontation. The villagers also expressed their displeasure with the authorities’ actions and their ongoing efforts to prevent timber smuggling.
The officers are in the process of transporting the confiscated timber to the forest office, but the reaction of the villagers remains uncertain. The situation remains tense, with police picketing continuing in the area to prevent further escalation.