Violence erupts at Indo-Bhutan border in Assam's Chirang over forest land dispute

Tension continues to run high at the Runikhata Forest Range Office along the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam’s Chirang district, as clashes between security personnel and protesters remained ongoing on April 17. The situation turned volatile after local residents, including a large number of women, staged protests demanding the release of individuals allegedly detained on charges of encroaching upon reserved forest land.

According to sources, the protest intensified after the forest range office was gheraoed overnight, leading to a confrontation between the demonstrators and forest officials. During the unrest, a young woman was reportedly seriously injured following a baton charge by forest personnel, further fuelling public anger.

On Friday, fresh protests erupted as locals gathered again to voice their opposition, during which security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse the crowd, escalating the situation further. Protesters reportedly resorted to stone-pelting, injuring several police personnel, including one who sustained a head injury.

Authorities rushed additional police forces to the area to bring the situation under control; however, tension continues to prevail with sporadic clashes being reported. The administration is closely monitoring the situation, while efforts are underway to restore normalcy in the region.