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

An eviction drive led by Assam Police and the Forest Department in Goalpara’s Paikan Reserve Forest took a violent turn on Wednesday morning, leaving one person dead and another injured after police reportedly opened fire on alleged encroachers.

The situation escalated when a large group of residents, said to be occupying forest land illegally, allegedly resisted the eviction team’s advance. According to sources, tensions flared as some in the crowd reportedly attacked the police personnel and attempted to halt the operation.

In response, police resorted to firing to disperse the mob, resulting in one fatality and one injury. Unconfirmed reports also suggest that some police personnel sustained injuries in the clash.

The deceased has been identified as Shakuar Hussain, while the injured individual has been identified as Kutubuddin Sheikh. Police said that the firing was carried out in self-defence after the eviction team allegedly came under attack.

Dramatic visuals from the scene show dozens of people pelting stones at the eviction team and attacking an excavator brought in carry out the eviction. Some individuals were seen wielding sticks and chasing members of the eviction squad. One video captures the chaos as police, along with the excavator, attempted to drive back the crowd, while facing a barrage of stones.

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Posted by Pratidin Time on Wednesday, July 16, 2025

The eviction operation was launched to clear over 140 hectares of encroached land within the Paikan Reserve Forest, which falls under the Krishnai range. The heavily encroached areas of Bidyapara and Betbari have reportedly been home to numerous families living without legal permission for years.

Authorities had been preparing for the operation over the past several days, with joint teams of forest officials and police increasing patrols and issuing repeated public announcements via loudspeakers, urging residents to vacate the area peacefully before the final deadline.

The Paikan Reserve Forest, which spans 711 hectares in total, has seen over 140 hectares allegedly encroached upon. Forest officials claim the illegal settlements have posed a grave threat to the region's fragile ecosystem.

(This is a developing story)

Also Read: Goalpara: 140 Hectares in Paikan Reserve Forest Set for Eviction