Two Forest Department personnel were allegedly assaulted and a sand-laden dumper seized during an anti-illegal sand mining operation was forcibly taken away near Gauripur in Assam’s Dhubri district on Tuesday evening.
A Forest Department patrolling team intercepted the dumper near Balodmara Petrol Pump at around 7.28 pm after its driver allegedly failed to produce a valid Electronic Transit Pass or other required documents. The vehicle was seized and being escorted to a safe-custody premises in Gauripur.
The situation escalated near Gauripur Jatiya Bidyalaya when a Bolero allegedly intercepted the dumper. According to the Forest Department’s complaint, the occupants allegedly forced the driver to unload the sand, during which the vehicle reportedly collided with an electric pole, snapping live wires and causing a power disruption in the area.
Forest Guard Rantu Pathak was allegedly assaulted and thrown from the moving dumper, while fixed-pay staff member Alimuddin Sheikh was allegedly beaten and verbally abused.
The alleged attackers later removed the sand and fled, while the seized dumper was also taken away from Forest Department custody.
Forester-1 Sahabaz Sultan of the Dhubri Forest Check Station lodged a complaint with Gauripur Police, seeking an FIR and action against those involved. Police have initiated an investigation.
