Tensions flared in the reserve forest area of Sattupalli mandal in Khammam district when local tribal women intervened to stop Forest department staff from detaining two tribal men. The incident, which occurred near Tamaracheruvu, was sparked by allegations that the men had damaged trenches meant for plantation on approximately 10 hectares of forest land. As the Forest staff attempted to address what they deemed encroachment on protected land, local tribal women protested by squatting in front of a forest vehicle, asserting their claim to the land as 'podu land'. This confrontation underscores the ongoing disputes between tribal communities and government authorities regarding land rights and the use of forest resources, reflecting deeper issues of encroachment and cultivation practices within reserve areas. The Forest department's actions are part of broader efforts to manage and protect forest land, but they are met with resistance from tribal groups who assert their historical ties to these lands.