Guwahati, July 17: A police-led eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest in Assam’s Goalpara district turned violent on Thursday, resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to another, triggering fresh tensions in the region.
The operation, jointly carried out by Assam Police and the Forest Department, aimed to clear over 140 hectares of encroached land in the protected forest area under the Krishnai Range. The Paikan Reserve Forest spans approximately 711 hectares and is classified as a protected ecological zone, crucial for environmental conservation.
According to officials, the eviction team met with fierce resistance from residents of Bidyapara and Betbari — two localities where families have reportedly been residing for years without official land documents. The confrontation escalated when a group of locals allegedly began pelting stones and attacking government equipment, including an excavator.
In what police claim was an act of self-defence, security personnel opened fire on the protesters. One person, identified as Shakuar Hussain, was killed in the incident. Another resident, Kutubuddin Sheikh, sustained injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Unconfirmed reports also suggest minor injuries among some police personnel during the skirmish.
Authorities said multiple rounds of patrolling and public announcements had preceded the eviction, urging residents to vacate the forest land voluntarily. Forest officials maintained that the operation was necessary to halt environmental degradation caused by illegal human settlement in the ecologically sensitive zone.
As news of the firing spread, the situation in the area remained tense. Local leaders and rights activists have called for an impartial investigation into the use of force. The state government has yet to issue an official statement regarding any potential judicial inquiry or follow-up actions related to the incident.
