Assam: Forest official attacked by illegal encroachers in Chirang district

A forest department official has been injured in an attacked was committed by illegal encroachers in Assam's Chirang district. 

The incident happened at the Ranikhata range of the Chirang-Ripu Reserved Forest close to the international border with Bhutan. The official, identified as Pranjal Talukdar, has been seriously injured in the attack. He is currently admitted at a private hospital in Bongaigaon town for treatment. 

As per sources, the attack happened when the forest official along with a team were trying to evict illegal encroachers in the area, who had set up houses and had set up farms within the forest area after encroaching upon it. 

Speaking on the incident, DFO Brahmananda Patir said that the forest department patrolling group was passing by the area and saw illegal structures and farms within the forest. When they tried to dismantle the houses erected, suddenly they were attacked by the illegal encroachers. 

He further said that the attack was sudden and unexpected due to which the forest official got injured. Another forest official also sustained minor injuries in the incident, and is also hospitalised. 

"There are armed personnel in every patrolling party that is sent out. But we cannot just open fire at people during such a pre-meditated attack. Nobody knew that there illegal structures there and many people were hiding nearby," said the DFO. 

As per sources, Talukdar has also been targeted by illegal encroachers in the pastas well. It was also informed that encroachment remains a major problem in the area inspite of repeated eviction drives conducted in the past.