Eviction drive in Goalpara turns deadly, sparking debate over settlers’ rights.
Goalpara: At least one person was killed and another critically injured after violent clashes erupted between alleged settlers and security forces during an eviction drive in Assam’s Goalpara district. Several police personnel were also injured in the confrontation, which occurred in and around the Paikan Reserve Forest area.
The incident unfolded during an operation to clear illegal encroachments from nearly 140 hectares of forest land within the 711-hectare Paikan Reserve Forest. According to officials, settlers armed with sticks and stones attacked the eviction team, prompting police retaliation.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, said the Assam Police responded swiftly.
“We have already acted—in Assam Police, nothing is pending. We don’t talk about doing things later. We act immediately. Within one or two hours of the incident, we had taken action. Ten people have already been arrested,” he said.
“In our dictionary, we don’t delay. We don’t think of doing or talk of doing—we do immediately. Our action is already complete in this case.”
Goalpara Superintendent of Police Nabaneet Mahanta said, “An unruly mob attacked more than 20 security personnel. We have registered two cases. A local school was also burned down during the violence.”
He added that encroachers had arrived armed with lathis and machetes. “We have identified many people, and we are on the lookout for them. The illegal immigration will be stopped there, and I urge you not to take the law into your own hands.”
Visuals from the site showed settlers charging at police with sticks and hurling stones. In the chaos, police reportedly opened fire, resulting in the death of one person and serious injury to another. Injured officers were taken to nearby hospitals.
Chief Minister Sarma stated that more than 12,000 hectares—comparable to the size of Chandigarh—have been cleared of encroachments.
In Krishnai, where homes were recently bulldozed, residents expressed anguish.
Mainul Hoque from Bidyapara, whose house was demolished on July 12, said:
“My family has lived here for 80 years. I’m now staying in a temporary shelter. I request the Assam government to allot us land to live.”
Another affected resident, 84-year-old Abdus Samad Choudhury, said:
“We are not Bangladeshi. We are from here, and we vote here. All of us have been living here for years. Since we are landless, I request the government to rehabilitate us.”
