A forest department official was killed and three others seriously injured following a brutal attack by timber mafia and certain locals in Goalpara’s Krishnai Salpara Darpara on Monday Midnight. The incident has created a tense atmosphere in the region.
Identified as Rajbir Ahmed, the deceased forest official was part of a team conducting a raid in the Boro Matia Reserve Forest. The team had seized a cut sal tree along with a tractor when they were ambushed by the attackers armed with sharp weapons.
The assailants attacked the forest department personnel while they were transporting the seized sal tree and tractor back to their office. The unexpected and violent confrontation led to serious injuries for three other members of the department, named as Mobinur Rahman, Nazrul Islam, and Mastafa Ali. All three were admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for urgent medical care.
In a further display of impunity, the attackers proceeded to rob the forest department officials following the assault. Personal belongings, including a mobile phone and two gold rings, were snatched away by the forest mafia.
The attack is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by forest department personnel in their efforts to protect India’s natural resources from illegal exploitation. It also highlights the brutal methods employed by timber mafias to deter authorities from disrupting their illegal activities. Calls are likely to intensify for better protection for forest workers and stricter measures to curb timber smuggling in the aftermath of this tragic incident.
