Assam: Forest officials assaulted, seized dumper forcibly taken away during anti-illegal sand mining operation in Dhubri

Two Forest Department personnel were allegedly assaulted and a seized sand-laden dumper was forcibly taken away during an anti-illegal sand mining operation near Gauripur in Assam’s Dhubri district on Tuesday, September 1 evening.

According to the Forest Department, a patrolling team from the Dhubri Forest Check Station intercepted a dumper bearing registration number NL-02-AA-0077 near Balodmara Petrol Pump at around 7:28 pm. The vehicle was allegedly carrying sand, and its driver, identified as Ashadul Sheikh of Kokrajhar district, failed to produce a valid Electronic Transit Pass or other documents required under the Assam Minor Mineral Concession Rules.

The officials subsequently seized the vehicle and deputed Forest Guard Rantu Pathak and fixed-pay staff member Alimuddin Sheikh to escort it to the designated safe-custody premises at the Old Social Forestry Office Campus in Gauripur.

The situation escalated around 7:56 pm when a white Bolero bearing registration number AS-01-FZ-4043 allegedly intercepted the seized dumper near Gauripur Jatiya Bidyalaya in the Narisamiti area.

According to the complaint lodged by the Forest Department, a person identified as Hasen, who was allegedly driving the Bolero, directed the dumper driver to unload the sand on the road. During the alleged forced unloading, the dumper collided with an electric pole, snapping overhead live wires and damaging electrical infrastructure in the area.

The incident reportedly resulted in a power disruption and damage to electrical appliances at several nearby households following a power surge.

Amid the resulting chaos and the danger posed by the live wires, the forest personnel accompanying the seized vehicle were allegedly attacked. Forest Guard Rantu Pathak was allegedly assaulted and thrown out of the moving dumper, while Alimuddin Sheikh was allegedly beaten and verbally abused while attempting to carry out his official duties.

The attackers allegedly removed the sand from the vehicle before fleeing the area in the Bolero. The seized dumper was subsequently taken away from the custody of the Forest Department.

Forester-1 Sahabaz Sultan, attached to the Dhubri Forest Check Station, has lodged a complaint with Gauripur Police Station seeking registration of an FIR and immediate action against those involved.

The complaint alleges offences including assault on public servants, obstruction of government officials in the discharge of their duties, damage to public property and illegal removal of seized property.

Gauripur Police have initiated an investigation into the incident and are working to identify and apprehend those allegedly involved.