Eviction Drive Turns Violent in Assam’s Goalpara, One Killed in Police Firing

Guwahati – A government-led eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest under the Krishnai Range of Assam’s Goalpara district took a violent turn on Thursday, resulting in the death of one person and serious injury to another after police opened fire on protestors.

The joint operation, carried out by the Assam Police and Forest Department, aimed to clear over 140 hectares of encroached land from the 711-hectare protected forest area.

Violence erupted when residents from the densely populated areas of Bidyapara and Betbari, located within the forest zone, allegedly resisted the eviction with stones and sticks.

Officials said the situation escalated when a large crowd tried to stop the eviction by attacking police personnel and damaging an excavator. In response, police reportedly opened fire on the mob, claiming it was in self-defence.

One person, identified as Shakuar Hussain, died in the clash, while Kutubuddin Sheikh sustained severe injuries. There are also unverified reports of injuries among security personnel.

Videos shared on social media captured the chaos — angry residents hurling stones, vandalizing equipment, and police forces retreating amid the turmoil.

Authorities stated that prior to the eviction, multiple rounds of patrolling and public notices had been issued, urging residents to vacate the area voluntarily. However, resistance remained strong.

Forest officials defended the eviction, citing the urgent need to protect the forest’s ecological balance and biodiversity. The Paikan Reserve Forest is a designated conservation zone, playing a key role in preserving local wildlife and forest cover.

In response to the unrest, security has been intensified in the area to prevent further violence. Meanwhile, human rights groups have demanded an independent investigation into the use of force by police during the operation.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has previously reiterated the government’s commitment to reclaiming all encroached land in the state.

With inputs from IANS