Paikan Police Firing: What Caused the Death(s)?

What began as a peaceful eviction drive turned violent on Thursday at the Paikan Reserve Forest in Assam’s Goalpara district, leading to police firing that killed one person and injured two others.

The eviction was reportedly carried out as per court orders to clear encroachment on forest land. Residents, whose houses were previously demolished, had continued living in makeshift tents at the site.

According to locals, the court order also mandated proper rehabilitation for the evicted families, something they claim has not been fulfilled. On Wednesday, officials reportedly distributed food to the displaced families. However, the food was allegedly of poor quality and rejected by many.

Tensions escalated on Thursday as forest officials arrived in the morning and ordered a JCB to dig a large pit, reportedly to cut off access between groups of people living in makeshift tents. The move, allegedly directed by Forest Officer Jagadish Barman, was seen as an attempt to isolate the evicted families and sparked immediate outrage among the residents.

Eyewitnesses claim that people began retaliating by pelting stones at the police and eviction personnel. In response, security forces opened fire.

Locals further alleged that Forest Officer Jagadish Barman had threatened the protesters with extreme force, reportedly saying he would not hesitate to "pay out of pocket to shoot them" if necessary.

In the ensuing chaos, a 19-year-old man named Sakuwar Ali was shot dead. Another resident, Kusumuddin, aged around 30–35, was critically injured and referred to Guwahati for advanced treatment. While reports suggest he may have succumbed to his injuries en route, this has yet to be officially confirmed. A third person, Amir Hamza (27), was also injured and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Goalpara.

Pratidin Time tried to speak to the concerned police officials to get firsthand information, but did not receive a response till the time this report was filed.

Also Read: BREAKING: Police Open Fire During Goalpara Eviction; One Dead, Another Injured