-The Times of India
Hundreds of the villagers living in the periphery of Sarika tiger reserve on Tuesday blocked the gates to the forest and gheraoed the employees in protest against relocation of the villages nearby the reserve.
On Wednesday, hundreds of villagers gathered for a mahapanchayat against the government order of not letting the farmers to sell off their lands since there is a ban on selling and purchasing of property nearby the reserve.
The angry villagers also said that they will not let any tourist to visit the reserve till April 1 as a mark of protest. Soon after spotting the hundreds of villagers, a team of wildlife officials and police held talks with the villagers to resolve the issue.
"If the state government will not solve our problems varying from the land related disputes and our relocation, we will intensify the agitation," said Bhupat Balayan, a local farmer leader.
A few villagers adjoining the reserve were already been relocated by the authorities while many villagers were against it and have been protesting against it for a long time.