Guwahati: The Goalpara forest personnel resorted to blank firing at the scene after residents of Dhokapara village in Lakhipur reportedly attacked a forest ranger’s vehicle and stole a forest guard’s motorcycle.
According to forest officials, they got a tip about Kala, a miscreant who was involved in removing Sal trees from Kumarkhali Reserve Forest, at about 6.30 pm on Sunday.
Accordingly, a squad of forest officials led by forest ranger Dhruva Dutta arrived at the location and discovered that Kala’s home was where the tree trunks were hidden.
“While trying to seize the trunk of Sal trees, Kala and few others got into a fight with our forest personnel. During the scuffle, villagers came out of their house holdings sticks in their hands and chased us. They also snatched the motorcycle from one of our forest guard. At one stage, they obstructed us from moving ahead. Following this, our team fired one round in the air to spread fear among the villagers. No one was hurt in the incident. We managed to come out of the village along with our forest guards. Later, a police complaint was lodged at Lakhipur police station and a re-operation with the police was conducted,” said Dhruva Dutta to the media.
Dutta also stated that the villagers who rushed to Kala’s aid had already hidden the Sal tree trunks who also claimed that a police squad and forest officials arrived at the Dhokapara village for the re-operation.
Currently, Kala and a few of his accomplices are absconding.