Kokrajhar/ Guwahati, Apr 17 (PTI) A mob went on a rampage at a forest range office in Assam’s Chirang district on Friday, leaving several people, including forest personnel, injured following the detention of some locals over alleged encroachment of protected land, officials said.
As a precautionary measure, mobile internet services were suspended in Chirang and adjoining Kokrajhar districts with immediate effect to prevent the spread of inflammatory messages or rumours that could aggravate the situation, they said.
The protestors, mostly from the Adivasi community, alleged that the detained persons, including women, were assaulted by forest personnel, and demanded immediate action against those responsible.
Besides ransacking the Runikhata forest range office, the protesters torched government vehicles inside the premises, located close to the Bhutan border, and barely a few metres away from the local police station, the officials 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 and firing in the air 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 extent of damage to the forest office and vehicles is being processed.
On claims that weapons and ammunition from the forest office were looted, he said, “We will look into the 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 claimed.
Meanwhile, an official notification said there were reports of misinformation being spread through social media to cause social disharmony in Chirang district and its adjoining areas.
“Social media and internet could be used to further spread inflammatory messages, rumours, etc, that may lead to further aggravation of the situation. Therefore, in the interest of maintaining peace and tranquillity, internet/mobile data services of all service providers in Chirang and Kokrajhar districts have been suspended with immediate effect,” an order by the state government’s political department said.
Voice calls and broadband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines shall remain functional during the period, the order stated.
Tensions had erupted after forest personnel detained some locals on Thursday over alleged illegal cutting and clearing of forest land in 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.
They alleged that those detained were assaulted by forest personnel, including attacks on the private parts of women, before being released late at night.
The protestors 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.” PTI COR SSG SSG MNB
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