Guwahati, July 17: A 19-year-old youth was shot dead and four others were injured—one critically—after police opened fire during a violent clash with a group of re-encroachers at Paikan Reserve Forest in Assam’s Goalpara district on Thursday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Sakowar Ali, son of Manowar Ali. Kusumuddin Ali, who suffered critical injuries, is undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
At least 15 police and forest personnel, including Krishnai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Krishnakam Bordoloi, were also injured.
On July 12, the administration launched what officials described as Assam’s largest eviction drive, clearing nearly 150 acres of forest land and evicting over 1,080 families from the Paikan Reserve Forest.
However, many of those evicted returned and set up makeshift shelters in the cleared area. Early Thursday morning, a joint team of police and forest officials moved in to dismantle these structures, triggering the confrontation.
Officials said the team faced resistance as the mob began pelting stones. Police first fired blank rounds, then used lathis to disperse the crowd. When the situation escalated and the crowd reportedly attacked with bamboo sticks, the police opened fire.
“Despite multiple warnings and even asking them to vacate again last evening, they refused to leave,” said a district administration official. “When we attempted to remove the illegal huts this morning, they turned violent. We had no choice but to fire.”
The police action drew strong condemnation from several political and student organisations.
AIUDF general secretary Haji Rafiqul Islam called the incident a “planned murder” and blamed the local forest ranger for provoking the violence.
“We had already warned the district administration about this officer’s threats. Instead of restraining him, they allowed this atrocity to happen at 5 AM when people were still asleep,” said Islam.
He demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting Gauhati High Court judge and the arrest of the officials responsible.
MSUA president Jalal Uddin echoed the sentiment, calling for rehabilitation before eviction and warning of mass agitation if such drives continue.
AAMSU also blamed Goalpara DFO Tejash Mariswamu, demanding his immediate suspension.
Following the clash, miscreants torched Bidyapara ME School and an Anganwadi Centre.
Police later arrested four individuals in connection with the violence: Hasinur Ali (20),
Abdur Rahim (42), Jahidul Islam (18) and Mahidur Ali (21).
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned that anyone who attacked police would face legal consequences.
Officials continue to defend the eviction, citing repeated warnings and non-compliance by the returnee settlers.
