Hagrama Mohilary condemns Chirang forest office attack

BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary has strongly condemned the attack on the Forest Department office at Ranikhat in Chirang district and the destruction of government property. He said a detailed report on the incident has been sought and assured that appropriate action will be taken against those found involved. He also emphasised that the actions of one or two individuals should not lead to an entire community being judged negatively. Mohilary further informed that he, along with all BTC council members, will visit the incident site.

Tension continues to run high at the Runikhata Forest Range Office along the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam’s Chirang district following clashes between security personnel and protesters on April 17.

According to officials, tensions began on Thursday, April 16, after forest teams detained several locals for alleged encroachment and illegal clearing of land inside the Ripu–Chirang Reserve Forest, part of Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park. A crowd surrounded the Runikhata office that night demanding their release but dispersed without violence.

However, the situation escalated on Friday morning when a larger mob, armed with sticks, returned and attacked the premises. The crowd ransacked the office and residential quarters, torched seven to eight vehicles, including government jeeps, and allegedly attempted to snatch weapons from forest guards. Several forest personnel were injured in the violence.

Police and forest staff resorted to a lathi charge and used tear gas to disperse the crowd, later firing blank shots in the air as tensions intensified.

Sources said the unrest was fuelled by anger among local residents, including a large number of women, over the detentions. During the clashes, a young woman was reportedly seriously injured in a baton charge, further escalating tensions.

Protesters alleged that forest personnel had assaulted them a day earlier and that two women were injured. The mob reportedly comprised members of the Santali community protesting the detention of alleged encroachers.