An eviction drive in Assam’s Goalpara district turned deadly on Wednesday when police opened fire during a clash with residents in the Paikan Reserve Forest, leaving two men dead and several others injured. The incident occurred as forest officials and police attempted to remove settlers who were allegedly occupying forest land illegally.
The deceased have been identified as Shakuar Hussain and Kutubuddin Sheikh. According to police, the firing was carried out in self-defence after the eviction team was allegedly attacked by the crowd.
Videos from the scene show chaos breaking out as dozens of people pelted stones at the police and forest officials. An excavator brought in for the operation was also attacked. Some residents were seen chasing the officials with sticks, while the police tried to push back the crowd amid the violence.
The eviction team had been sent to clear more than 140 hectares of land reportedly encroached upon in the Paikan Reserve Forest, part of the Krishnai forest range. Areas like Bidyapara and Betbari, where many families have lived for years without legal documents, were the primary focus of the operation.
Authorities say the residents were given multiple warnings and told to leave the area peacefully. Over the last few days, joint teams of police and forest officials patrolled the area and used loudspeakers to announce the final eviction deadline.
Forest department officials claim the illegal settlements have been harming the region’s already fragile ecosystem.
While unconfirmed reports suggest some police personnel may also have been injured, the state administration has yet to issue an official statement on the overall toll or whether any arrests have been made.
