Residents have begun an unusual fight with "outsiders" over Mahua in several villages in the district.

Mahua - Madhuca longifolia - is found abundantly in forests and government land in Banka and its flowers are used to produce popular country liquor.

"A full-grown tree yields Rs 5,000-6,000 annually so it is very important for the poor people like us," Anandi Das of Chandan village said.

Mahua is produced in huge numbers in remote blocks like Bounsi, Chandan, Fullidumar, Kotoria, Belhar and Banka. Several organisations like Naiya-Khaira Sangharsha Samiti and Janpahal Manch are conducting public awareness programmes about nature and environment among forest inhabitants since last year.

"We have destroyed several illegal makeshift houses and watchtowers inside Kolhua forest at Kotoria block last week. Local forest inhabitants encroached forest areas to grab Mahua," said a high-ranking forest official at Banka.

Villagers on the other hand have alleged that they just tried to prevent outsiders, including Maoists, to take away Mahua and constructed the temporary watchtowers. "We are fighting to save forest from the mafia so we have the rights over Mahua," said Shiv Khaira, a member of Janpahal Manch at Fullidumar.

Banka superintendent of police Satyaprakesh said since the matter was under the jurisdiction of the forest and excise departments, police could not interfere in this. "We can only intervene if requested to interfere in it," he added.