Mananthavadi: The Kerala Forest Protection Staff Association (KFPSA), an internal body for forest guard personnel, has expressed strong objections to the department’s swift and reckless disciplinary measures against officials involved in the demolition of three tribal huts in the Begur Forest Area. At Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday as part of his official duties.

The Forest Department on Tuesday issued an order suspending Begur Range Forest Divisional Officer T Rajan following widespread protests against the demolition. The issue came to public attention with tribal organizations and local representatives like Kalpetta MLA T Siddique spearheading an agitation on behalf of the affected families. This led to the intervention of Forest Minister AK Saseendran and Minister of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare OR Kelu.

However, the KFPSA formally protested the action at a higher level and warned of open protest if the state government continued with what it considered to be an anti-employee approach.

The association stated that the demolition was carried out with the full consent of the tribal residents. According to KFPSA, the authorities were merely implementing a decision made by the higher levels of the Ministry of Forestry and were simply carrying out their duties.

KFPSA also expressed concern that misleading information circulating on social media is negatively impacting the reputation of all forest conservation personnel. The organization strongly condemned negative propaganda against forest officials and warned the state government to avoid hasty disciplinary measures, which they believed could demoralize forest guard personnel.