The banned Naxalite outfit, People's War Group (PWG), has over a year and a half raided 14 forest beat and range officers in West Bengal's southern districts of Midanapore, Bankura and Purulia. The state's forest department has now sent an SOS to the government seeking police protection in these districts. Further, the PWG's ban on all forestry operations, including systematic felling of trees, has severely affected joint forestry management. Under this programme, village forest protection committees work with the Forest Department to protect trees and harvest the produce when they mature. The PWG ban has halted the organised felling for two successive seasons, officials sources said.