The tribesmen and Dalits living in the thick reserve forest of Thamaravellachal, near the Peechi Reservoir in Thrissur, have challenged Forest Department officials by taking law into their hands. In the past two weeks around 80 families of the Malaya tribe and Dalits belonging to Kavara and Paraya communities have destroyed a large number of trees in 100 acres of the reserve forest claiming total authority over the area.