Assam: One killed, many injured during anti-encroachment operation in state

The encroachers had gone to cordon off a part of the Paikan Reserved Forest. A campaign was launched here on Saturday to remove encroachment.

Dispur: At least one person died in a clash between an angry mob and security personnel in Paikan Reserved Forest in Goalpara district of Assam on Thursday. During this, many others including policemen are also reported to be injured. Officials said that forest guards and policemen were attacked with sticks by alleged encroachers.

The encroachers had gone to cordon off a part of the Paikan Reserved Forest. A campaign was launched here on Saturday to remove encroachment.

Officials said that during the removal of encroachment, the people removed from there also threw stones at the forest guards and policemen. He said, 'The forest department wanted to dig a canal to ensure that there is no attempt of encroachment in future.

Yesterday this work was done peacefully, but when the team arrived this morning, the people of the area attacked them with stones and sticks.'

He said that in retaliation, the police had to open fire to control the situation, in which one person died and two others were injured. Several policemen and forest workers were injured in the stone pelting.

He said that according to initial reports, the attackers also included people affected by the anti-encroachment operation of July 12.