Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Two senior forest officers were stoned to death by suspected red sanders smugglers Sunday morning in Seshachalam forests in Chittor district of Andhra Pradesh.
Deputy Range Officer L Sridhar and Assistant Beat Officer D Kumar died on the spot when at least eight suspected smugglers pelted them with stones after the two officers challenged them when they found them cutting trees in the forest.
The two officers had gone on routine combing along with six other officials. Three officers received injuries while three managed to escape and call for help.
Forest Beat Officer K C Sekhar who was injured in the incident told Tirupati police that the combing team came under attack and fist-sized stones were hurled at them. Sridhar and Kumar were injured in the head and died on the spot while the rest managed to flee.
This is the second incident of forest officials being killed by suspected red sanders smugglers.
