Hyderabad, April 27 --  Residents of five villages inside the Amrabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district took to the streets in Achampet town recently, demanding that forest authorities speed up their voluntary relocation, while pushing back against claims that they are being forcibly displaced.

The rally, attended by women, youth and elders from Sarlapally, Kudichintala Bailu, Kollampenta, Thatigundala Penta and Vatavarlapally, came at an unusually charged moment. In recent weeks, allegations have circulated that Chenchu tribal communities in the reserve are being coerced into leaving by Forest Department officials. The villagers were unequivocal in their rejection of that narrative.

"Neither officials nor politica...