In a startling event in Dharmapuri, the forceful eviction of families residing in the forested area near Pennagaram by forest officials has stirred up widespread shock.
These families, including fishermen and farmers from areas like Yamanur, Singapuram, and Sandal Thetu, have dwelled in these lands for generations. Among them, over 15 families residing in Edattaru and Veppamarattu Kombu near Hogenakkal, have lived there for at least five generations, primarily engaging in cattle breeding and fishing.
The recent eviction saw over 10 forest officials orchestrating the removal, resorting to abusive behavior, demolishing houses, and employing various oppressive tactics. Visuals show distressing sight of roofs being torn off houses and women being forcibly dragged out. As a result, three individuals, including two women, a kid sustained injuries and were subsequently admitted to Pennagaram Government Hospital.
Social activists and politicians are raising voices against this atrocity, emphasizing the necessity for the forest department to adopt more humane approaches and decrying such chaotic actions as utterly condemnable.
In this regard, the Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, has strongly criticized the ruling DMK government, stating that, “The news and videos of Tamil Nadu forest department forcefully evicting the indigenous people of Pennagaram Hogenakkal forest area in Dharmapuri district are shocking. Throwing away the belongings of the natives, tearing apart the roofs, and forcibly evicted the women and children without even looking at them. The DMK government is showing its authority only on the poor and needy people, ignoring those who corrupt and loot the people’s money, smuggles counterfeit liquor and drugs. The forest is for the indigenous people. I strongly condemn this repression of the DMK government, which abuses its power and removes them without providing them with proper housing facilities.”
தர்மபுரி மாவட்டம் பெண்ணாகரம் ஒகேனக்கல் வனப்பகுதி பூர்வகுடி மக்களை, தமிழக வனத்துறையினர் வலுக்கட்டாயமாக வெளியேற்றும் செய்தியும் காணொளிகளும், மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது.
பூர்வகுடி மக்களின் உடைமைகளைத் தூக்கி எறிந்தும், கூரையைப் பிரித்து எறிந்தும், பெண்கள், குழந்தைகள் என்று கூடப்… pic.twitter.com/VVzw8Jt7LX
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) May 10, 2024
(With Inputs From Thanthi TV)
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