ANANTAPUR: Shoot at sight orders have been issued against those involved in felling of fruit orchards, destroying bore wells and farm pipelines.

Issuing the warning on Saturday night, Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Jain said that rowdy sheets would also be opened on those involved in such crimes.

The culture was allegedly introduced by a factional leader of Yellanur and Putlur area about two decades ago to settle scores with his rivals. The incidents have been on the rise in the recent village polls.

Mr. Jain appealed to the people to pass on information about any such incidents to the police and assured them that the informer's identity would be kept secret.

Cases are being booked under Sections 147 and 148 of Indian Penal Code for felling of orchards.

Lack of evidence

However, there has been no single incident where a person booked under the Sections has been punished, mainly due to lack of evidence. Lakhs of trees — sweet-lime, papaya, banana, guava, pomegranate, sappota, mango — have been felled following factional feuds in the district over the last two decades.

The crime was limited to the areas bordering with Kadapa district in Dharmavaram and Tadipatri constituencies first. But, it has spread to Singanamala, Penukonda, Gooty, Uravakonda and Kalyanadurg constituencies in the recent years.

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