Guwahati, 19th January: In a shocking incident near the Indo-Bhutan border, a forest range officer and his team at Runikhata Forest range in Chirang forest division were brutally attacked by a mob of around 150 people during an anti-encroachment drive.
The forest officers, led by forest ranger Pranjal Talukdar, were carrying out an eviction order on unlawfully encroached forest land when they encountered fierce resistance.
The team discovered temporary homes and shops on the illegally occupied land, previously evicted three times.
Acting on the orders of the Divisional Forest Officer, Chirang Forest Division and the officials initiated the demolition of the encroachments. However, upon their return, they were confronted by an enraged mob that gheraoed and attacked them with stones and sticks.
Forest ranger Pranjal Talukdar recounted the harrowing incident, stating, “During our anti-encroachment drive, we destroyed all of the temporary homes and shops that had been established on the three times evicted forest area. When I and my team were returning, a mob of 100 to 150 individuals attacked us near a market place occupied by forest encroachers. They hit me with a stone in the head, and three of my staff was also injured in the mob attack. Our forest department vehicle was vandalized.”
The incident highlights the challenges faced by authorities in addressing illegal encroachments on forest land and the risks involved in carrying out such eviction drives. The forest officials sustained serious injuries in the attack, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to handle such situations and ensure the safety of officers involved in enforcing the law.
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