Assam: Raid on illegal brick kilns turns hostile as mob forces revenue officials to retreat in Boko

A government crackdown on illegal brick kiln operations in Assam’s Boko–Chaygaon co-distrct faced stiff resistance after a revenue official was allegedly chased away by suspected operators during a demolition drive on March 7.

According to officials, the incident occurred in the Chamaria area under the Boko–Chaygaon co-district when a team from the Boko Revenue Circle Office, accompanied by the village head and personnel from the Boko Police, carried out a raid targeting illegal brick kilns operating in the locality.

The operation, led by a Revenue Circle Officer from Chamaria, aimed to dismantle kilns functioning without mandatory government approvals. An excavator had been brought to the site to demolish the structures. However, the team allegedly faced aggressive resistance from individuals believed to be involved in the illegal operations.

Eyewitnesses said the mob obstructed the officials and forced the officer to leave the site amid verbal abuse and intimidation. The situation reportedly escalated when the crowd attempted to attack the driver of the excavator brought for the demolition, prompting authorities to temporarily halt the operation.

The incident has brought renewed attention to the rapid spread of illegal brick kilns across the subdivision. Local sources claim that more than 500 unauthorised brick kilns have mushroomed across various parts of the region in recent years.

Residents and officials allege that the unchecked proliferation of these units is not only causing environmental degradation but also depriving the government of substantial revenue, as many operators run their businesses without licenses or regulatory compliance.

Illegal brick kiln operations have reportedly expanded significantly across several areas of the subdivision, with unscrupulous groups continuing to establish new units despite existing regulations. Critics say that alleged lapses in enforcement by sections of the local administration have emboldened operators to run their businesses openly.

Following the confrontation, Jaan Kishore Borah, Co-District Superintendent of Police (CDSP) visited the site to assess the situation and review the law-and-order implications of the incident.

Officials indicated that further action may be taken against those responsible for obstructing government officials and interfering with the enforcement drive.