Forest Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy, on Wednesday, called upon Kagaznagar Forest Range Officer Chole Anitha at her residence at Kowta (K) village in Boath mandal. The latter had returned from Hyderabad on Tuesday evening after getting treatment for a fracture she had suffered on her hand during an attack by a mob at Sarasala village in her Range in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district on June 30.

The Minister assured her of punishing those responsible for the attack. He said investigation is going on into the incident and that law will take its own course.

Mr. Reddy also assured people that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will soon visit the place and take a decision about podu lands. He urged people to protect forests and environment.

Cong., Left leaders held

Meanwhile, Kagaznagar police arrested Congress party's Sirpur constituency in-charge Palvai Harish Babu as a preventive measure following information about a Congress delegation comprising of State leader to visit Sarasala and other places on a fact-finding mission. He was shifted to Kerameri police station.

In Mancherial district head quarter town, police arrested a delegation of Left party leaders who were heading towards Sarasala. The leaders included CPI (M) State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, CPI (ML) New Democracy State joint secretary Potu Ranga Rao, All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangh State vice-president J.V. Chalapathi Rao, CPI State leader R. Lingaiah Naik among others.