Guwahati, July 17 — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said strict action will be taken against those who attacked police personnel during an eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest, located in Goalpara district. The operation turned violent, leaving one civilian dead and another critically injured.
The incident occurred when a joint team of Assam Police and the Forest Department attempted to evict settlers from over 140 hectares of encroached land in the 711-hectare forest area. Residents from nearby localities, Bidyapara and Betbari, reportedly resisted the eviction with stones and sticks, leading to a confrontation with security forces.
According to the Chief Minister, “If anybody attacked the security personnel, action will be taken against them. Our main objective is to free the encroached land in the Paikan Reserve Forest.”
Officials said the violence escalated when protesters damaged an excavator and allegedly attacked police, prompting the police to open fire in what they claimed was self-defence. One person, identified as Shakuar Hussain, died in the clash, while another, Kutubuddin Sheikh, sustained serious injuries. There are also unconfirmed reports of injuries among police personnel.
Dramatic visuals from the scene, shared widely on social media, showed chaotic scenes of crowds chasing the eviction team, pelting stones, and vandalising equipment. Some footage appeared to show police retreating under pressure from the crowd.
Authorities had earlier conducted multiple rounds of patrolling and issued public notices urging settlers to vacate the forest land voluntarily. However, resistance remained high, leading to Thursday’s confrontation.
The situation remains tense in the area as the state government continues its efforts to reclaim forest land from encroachment. CM Sarma emphasized that law and order will be upheld, and encroachments will not be tolerated.
