Encroachment of Forest Land: Woman Killed in Firing under Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary

CORRESPONDENT

NAGAON: Forest personnel resorted to firing at encroachers at Lathimari under Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary early this morning, killing one Rohima Khatun. Five others also sustained injuries in the firing. Four forest personnel were also injured in the sudden attack by encroachers.

According to sources, the district administration and the Forest Department did clear Lathimari from encroachers through a massive eviction drive a few months ago. Some of the evicted encroachers tried to encroach on the forest land again and constructed temporary structures there.

A team of forest personnel went to the site of the wildlife sanctuary early this morning and made an attempt to stop the encroachers from erecting structures there. However, some of the encroachers, equipped with sharp weapons like dao, rods, etc., went on a rampage and ransacked the Chitalmari Forest Beat under the wildlife sanctuary, injuring four. The situation led the forest personnel to resort to firing, killing a woman and injuring four others, sources said.

According to sources, some of the injured encroachers have been identified as Ahmod Ali, Ramjan Ali, Fatema Khatun, and Abdul (forest personnel).

The local police from Juria PS as well as other senior officials from Nagaon rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. They sent the injured to the local hospital for treatment.

Speaking to this correspondent, DFO, Nagaon Wildlife Division, Jayanta Deka, said that the incident was quite unexpected, but there was no alternative but to fire for the self-defence of the forest personnel. He said that the attitude of the encroachers was so aggressive and dreaded that they injured four forest personnel severely and also ransacked the office of the Chitalmari forest beat, for which the on-duty forest personnel had to fire in the air.

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