VIJAYAWADA: Villagers of Gummallapadu village in Kaikalur mandal of Krishna district staged a rasta roko for sometime on the National Highway 216 Tuesday, demanding immediate action against the people responsible for the death of forest beat officer M Narasimharaju, who allegedly committed suicide Monday.
According to information, Narasimharaju (27) was working as a forest beat officer in Kolleru region in the district since 2007, and had been recently allotted Paidichintapadu forest beat in West Godavari district.
It is learnt that Narasimharaju was suspended on August 2 for failing to check digging of illegal fish tanks in 250 acres in his assigned region. District forest officer (DFO) T Srinivas was also suspended on the same charges earlier.
Feeling humiliated, Narasimharaju allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide near Gummallapadu-Pandiripalligudem area on the banks of Upputeru lake Monday.
In a suicide note purportedly written by him, Narasimharaju blamed Eluru deputy range officer Venkateswara Rao and the Kokkiralalanka sarpanch for his death, and said that the harassment by them made him take the extreme step.
Agitated by this, the villagers, led by Gummallapadu sarpanch K Esther Rani, raised slogans and sought immediate action against the accused. The protesters demanded Narasimharaju’s job along with a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the bereaved family.
Later, state health minister Kamineni Srinivas, after consultation with forest minister Bojjala Gopala Krishna, announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of M Narasimharaju, and assured that a job will be given to one of the family members.
Gummallapadu villagers, who wanted to continue the protest by going to Eluru with Narasimharaju’s body, decided against it after the announcement made by the minister.