Assam: Eviction drive turns violent in Goalpara’s Paikan Reserve Forest; one dead, another injured in police firing

An eviction drive led by the Assam Police and Forest Department in the Paikan Reserve Forest under Krishnai Range of Goalpara district turned violent on Thursday morning, resulting in the death of one individual and serious injuries to another. The situation spiraled out of control after police reportedly opened fire on residents who allegedly resisted the operation.

According to official sources, the clash broke out when a large group of settlers, said to be occupying forest land illegally, attempted to obstruct the eviction team. Eyewitness accounts and video footage from the scene show residents hurling stones at the eviction squad and attacking an excavator used in the operation.

In response to the aggressive resistance, police allegedly fired upon the mob in what they claim was an act of self-defence. One person, identified as Shakuar Hussain, died during the clash, while Kutubuddin Sheikh sustained injuries. Unverified reports also suggest injuries among police personnel.

The eviction drive was launched to reclaim over 140 hectares of encroached land within the Paikan Reserve Forest, which covers a total area of 711 hectares. The encroached zones include the densely populated localities of Bidyapara and Betbari, where families have reportedly been residing for years without valid land documents.

Authorities had made extensive preparations for the operation, with multiple rounds of patrolling and public announcements urging illegal settlers to vacate voluntarily. However, the final push met with intense resistance.

Dramatic videos aired by local media depict a chaotic scene: agitated groups armed with sticks and stones advancing toward the authorities, damaging the excavator, and chasing the eviction team. Police can be seen retreating while facing continuous stone-pelting.

Forest officials defending the action stated that unchecked encroachments have severely threatened the area’s biodiversity and ecological balance. The Paikan Reserve Forest is part of a protected zone and plays a crucial role in maintaining the region’s forest cover.