Villagers protest forest dept action on illegal hunting

Trichy: More than a 100 villagers from a village near Manapparai, Trichy district, held a protest against the forest department for apprehending some villagers for illegal hunting.In villages around Manapparai, people from a particular community illegally go on ‘paari vettai' (a customary rabbit hunt) during Mahasivaratri, sources said. On the early hours of Tuesday, some individuals from Pannangombu village allegedly went for hunting.Anticipating the move, a team of forest department personnel led by Manapparai forest range officer A Maheshwaran attempted to thwart their hunting as per directions of chief conservator of forests R Kanchana and district forest officer S Krithiga. They apprehended three people and attempted to take them to the forest office.Upon receiving this information, villagers and nearby residents intercepted the forest department vehicle and launched a protest. The locals sat on the Manapparai–Thuvarangurichi Road at Pannangombu Kadai Veethi, blocking the road.Manapparai DSP K V Kavya and other officials arrived at the spot and held talks with the protesting villagers. After the department released the individuals, the protesters called off the agitation and dispersed. Police ensured the safe departure of the forest department vehicle.Due to this road blockade, traffic on the Manapparai–Thuvarangurichi Road remained disrupted for an hour. Manapparai subdivision police are investigating the incident.