Assam Police Arrest 10 After Deadly Clashes During Paikan Eviction

At least 10 people have been arrested in connection with the violent clashes that broke out during an eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest area of Assam’s Goalpara district on Wednesday. The arrests were made from various parts of Krishnai, where the forest area falls under, shortly after the incident.

According to sources, those arrested are suspected to have played an active role in the attack on the joint team of Assam Police and Forest Department officials. Some were allegedly seen pelting stones, blocking the team’s advance, and chasing officials with sticks. A few of the accused were reportedly caught on camera during the chaos.

The identifies of the arrested individuals area yet to be established.

The violence broke out when a large number of residents, who were allegedly occupying forest land without permission, resisted the eviction. Tensions quickly escalated as the crowd turned aggressive, forcing the police to fire shots to disperse them. In the resulting clash, one person, identified as Shakuar Hussain, was killed, while another, Kutubuddin Sheikh, was injured.

At least 21 personnel from the police and forest departments also sustained injuries during the incident.

The forest land in question is part of the 711-hectare Paikan Reserve Forest, out of which over 140 hectares had been allegedly occupied illegally for years. Despite repeated public appeals and announcements asking people to vacate the area, many families remained, leading to Wednesday’s eviction drive.

Following the incident, security has been tightened in the region. Senior officials have visited the area and are keeping a close watch to prevent further trouble.

Locals and rights groups have demanded a fair probe into the events that led to the firing. While the administration maintains that the eviction was necessary to protect forest land, many on the ground are questioning the manner in which it was carried out and the force used.

Further arrests have not been ruled out.

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