Several people, including forest personnel, were injured after a mob went on a rampage at Runikhata range office in Assam’s Chirang district on Friday following the detention of a few locals over alleged encroachment of reserved forest land, officials said.
The mob ransacked the forest range office and torched government vehicles inside the premises, located close to the Bhutan border, they said.
The situation was brought under control after senior police officers went to the spot and additional security forces were deployed, with police resorting to lathi-charge to disperse the mob.
“Some people were detained by the forest personnel yesterday, and after an inquiry, they were allowed to go. However, an agitated crowd gathered this morning and threw stones at the personnel and the forest office. They also torched some vehicles,” a senior police official said.
“Additional security forces were called in. The situation is under control now,” he said.
He said four to five forest and police personnel were injured, while there were reports that some of the protestors also sustained injuries, though the exact number was not known yet.
Another official said the assessment of damage caused to the forest office and vehicles is being processed.
On claims that weapons and ammunition from the forest office were looted, he said, “We have to look into all allegations.”
A forest personnel told reporters that a few of his colleagues were injured in the mayhem.
“The mob vandalised the forest office and residential quarters and torched vehicles on the premises,” he said.
Tensions had erupted after forest personnel detained some locals on Thursday over alleged illegal cutting and clearing of forest land in the Ripu Chirang Reserve Forest, which falls under Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park along the India-Bhutan border in Chirang district, an official said.
While a mob had gheraoed the forest office on Thursday night, demanding the unconditional release of the detained persons, it dispersed without violence.
However, a mob armed with sticks and other similar weapons gathered on Friday morning and went on a rampage, alleging that the forest personnel had assaulted them the previous day, including injuring two women protestors.
Locals have demanded action against the forest personnel involved in the alleged assault and raised slogans. They also blocked the road for some time by burning furniture from the forest office and placing stones.
A senior police officer urged the protestors to submit their complaints against forest personnel to the administration. Requesting them to clear the area, he said, “Give the local administration time to probe into your allegations. Blocking the road and damaging government property are no solutions.”
