The Forest Staff Association (FSA) here today urged Tamil Nadu Government to take stringent and punitive action against those who attacked forest officials in the backdrop of killing of a woman by a tiger in the district.
This was a preplanned attack on forest officials by those who have "encroached" the forest land and also the elephant corridor in Gudalur and Mudumalai areas, FSA President T Ilangovan alleged at a press conference here.
Moreover, the district and police delayed action against the mob, who burnt forest jeeps and ransacked the office, Ilangovan, said after a meeting of the association, in which about 80 members participated.
Angry villagers of Pattavayal allegedly assaulted two forest officials and ransacked the office, a day after a 30-year old woman tea estate worker was mauled to death by a tiger.
On continuing man-animal conflicta, Ilangovan said the association had long back submitted a memorandum to the Government to constitute a special force to prevent and tackle such conflicts.
This alone can achieve and bring down the incidents, he said.
