by Muslim Mirror Staff
In a tragic incident on Monday, violence erupted in Assam’s Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, resulting in the death of Rahima Khatun and injuries to six others, including three forest guards.
The dispute centred around makeshift structures, consisting of six bamboo sticks, tarpaulin, and a tin sheet, which were set up in the reserve forest of Sonitpur district.
The sanctuary, known for its wetland and grassland areas, is accessible from the nearest village by crossing two water bodies. The site gained attention in February when a massive eviction operation took place, clearing 1,282 hectares of land where over 2,000 people had established homes.
Although the eviction process was relatively peaceful, tensions resurfaced five months later, leading to the recent outbreak of violence. The forest department claimed that those previously evicted were attempting to resettle in the area. The confrontation escalated when a forest department team, led by Divisional Forest Officer Jayanta Deka, arrived at the site.
During the clash, a forester and two home guards were injured, and Rahima Khatun lost her life in what the forest department described as “retaliatory firing.” Three of Khatun’s relatives were also injured in the incident. Khatun, along with her family, had been living a few hundred meters away in temporary kutcha houses following the eviction. On the day of the clash, they set up a tarpaulin structure on the spot where their house had been demolished.
According to Farida Khatun, Rahima’s niece, the family took their sheep and cows to the area due to rising water levels caused by heavy rains. However, forest department officials viewed this action as an attempt to reclaim the land and stated that multiple efforts to resettle had been made since the eviction.
The incident has left Rahima Khatun’s husband, Samser Ali, injured and hospitalized, along with their two children.