Forest Officer Dies After Hitting Live Electric Wire Trap in Bhadradri Kothagudem

A 37-year-old forest beat officer, Banoth Naveen, died after coming into contact with an illegal live electric wire allegedly laid to hunt wild animals at Nakinipeta in Burgampahad mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 9:30 pm in compartment number 230 of the Krishnasagar reserve forest, near a 15-hectare Marujathi plantation, while forest staff were attempting to apprehend suspected poachers.

Police at the Burgampahad police station booked a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against three residents of Laxmipuram village: Avula Nagi Reddy, Dasari Naresh, and Thati Veerababu, alias Yerraiah. The case was registered following a written complaint submitted on Wednesday morning by deputy range officer Kursam Anarkali of the Musalimadugu section in the Paloncha range.

According to the FIR, Naveen received information around 8:00 pm on Tuesday that live electric wires had been drawn inside the forest in Cherupusingaram west beat. He alerted Anarkali, who notified other forest beat officers in the range. The team assembled and entered the reserve forest carrying torches. Bhadradri Kothagudem district forest officer Siddharth Vikram Singh stated that Naveen had received an initial tip-off and a subsequent call indicating activity in the area, prompting the team to move in.

While advancing through the plantation, the forest staff spotted three individuals acting suspiciously. When officers flashed their torches, the suspects identified themselves as Nagi Reddy, Naresh, and Veerababu before fleeing. Naveen ran ahead of the team to catch them when he touched the concealed wire at knee height. Sparks and flames erupted at the point of contact, and Naveen collapsed.

Forest personnel used wooden sticks to push the live wire away and pulled Naveen to safety. As his condition deteriorated rapidly, the team sought emergency medical assistance. At 9:57 pm, Anarkali alerted the forest divisional officer in Paloncha, who called the '112' emergency service for police and ambulance support.

Because rough terrain prevented the ambulance from reaching the scene, Naveen's colleagues carried him along a stream-side pathway to where the vehicle was waiting. He was taken to the Bhadrachalam area hospital, where a duty doctor examined him and declared him dead.

Investigations revealed that the live wire drew electricity from a transformer situated on ROFR patta land occupied by Lakavath Balu, Mudakam Venkatamma of Nakinipeta, and Tejapavath Mangilal of Kothathanda. The three occupants have not been named as accused in the FIR. Police and forest officials are examining call detail records to verify the identity of the tipster who alerted Naveen and determine whether the caller was linked to the electric trap.

Naveen was a resident of Venkatayya Thanda in Singareni mandal of Khammam district, and his family lives in Karepalli. He is survived by his wife, a three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and a one-and-a-half-year-old son. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vinay Kumar stated that the department would support Naveen's family and instructed officials to coordinate with police to ensure those responsible are arrested.