Ten held for attack on security forces in evicted area of Paikan Reserve Forest: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (July 18, 2025) stated 10 individuals have been arrested in reference to an assault on safety forces by alleged encroachers in Paikan Reserve Forest, which led to the loss of life of 1 individual and accidents to greater than 20 others.

He claimed that every one encroachers have been cleared from the realm, the place an eviction drive was carried out final week. “Now we have already taken motion. Ten individuals have been arrested inside hours of the incident. Our motion has been accomplished,” Mr. Sarma stated, addressing a press convention in Guwahati.

One alleged encroacher was killed and greater than 20 others, together with policemen, had been injured in a conflict between evicted individuals and safety personnel in Paikan Reserve Forest in Goalpara district on Thursday (July 17, 2025.)

The eviction drive carried out on July 12 to clear encroachment on round 135 hectares within the Reserve Forest beneath Krishnai Vary had affected 1,080 households, and the evicted individuals had been principally Bengali-speaking Muslims.

The Chief Minister stated Paikan is ‘empty now’ and added, “They received’t come there once more. After a degree, they don’t return, I do know from expertise.” He stated 40-50 households had been staying in momentary shelters even after the eviction drive, with the authorities additionally not pushing him out instantly as they’d assured him of leaving the realm quickly.

Reiterating his accusation in opposition to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi of emboldening the encroachers by way of his speech throughout his Assam go to on Wednesday (July 16, 2025), Mr. Sarma stated, “Folks from Goalpara had come for Gandhi’s assembly. Later, they went to Paikan at evening and instigated the individuals, who attacked the forest guards and police the subsequent day.” “Police are trying into whether or not there was any impression of Kharge and Gandhi’s provocative speeches. In any case, one individual died,” he added.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had accompanied Rahul Gandhi through the day-long go to.