Assam: Forest Dept Official Killed, 3 Critically Injured in Timber Smuggling Clash in Goalpara

GUWAHATI: Clashes between the forest officers and alleged timber smugglers broke out in Goalpara, Assam, on May 29. One official of the forest department was killed, and three others suffered critical injuries.

An operation against illegal timber smuggling was reportedly initiated by forest department officers at the Boro Matia Reserved Forest within Krishnai Salpara Darapara in Goalpara on the night of May 29.

Conflicts started when a group of illicit smugglers attacked the forest department crew with sharp weapons while they were delivering seized goods to their office.

Sources claim that locals were also involved in the altercation. The officials' squad was also pillaged by the smugglers, who stole their gold rings and cell phones. The injured officials are receiving care at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital at this time.

According to a report, Rajbir Ahmed has been recognised as the deceased employee of the forest department. The three hurt officers have been named as Mobinur Rahman, Mustafa Ali, and Najrul Islam.

However, in 2021, as part of more aggressive campaign against the illegal wood trade in the state, the Assam Forest Department has impounded two vehicles in the districts of Kamrup and Goalpara.

According to sources, Rangia, the Sadar beat officer, on Wednesday discovered and impounded a vehicle that was hauling illicit timber. The vehicle was stopped as it left the Bodoland Territorial Region by the beat officer and forest workers.

Later on, a second vehicle carrying sawn timber was discovered and impounded in the Lewbari region under the Goalpara Sadar Range. Goalpara Sadar range officer Santana Medhi pursued the car and stopped it with the help of her staff. Following that, cases were filed against the culprits.

On the other hand, in 2022, after police stopped a vehicle that was reportedly smuggling timber, there were six individuals killed in a fight at the Assam-Meghalaya border. One of them was a forest guard.

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