Guwahati, Dec 30: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi on Monday alleged that the arson attack on Molai Kathoni, the man-made forest nurtured by renowned environmentalist Jadav Payeng, could not have taken place without the protection or backing of the government.
Responding to reports that a section of the forest had been set on fire by miscreants, Gogoi said the incident had deeply disturbed environmentally conscious citizens and described the act as deeply hateful and unacceptable. He claimed that no individual would have dared to damage a protected forest area without some form of official patronage.
Gogoi said Molai Kathoni, developed through the lifelong efforts of Payeng and his daughter Munmuni Payeng, stood as a symbol of conservation and ecological commitment in Assam. He argued that the attack could not be treated as a routine criminal act and questioned the motive behind targeting a forest of such environmental significance.
Referring to media reports, the Congress leader pointed towards the possible involvement of the sand mafia. He alleged that despite sustained objections from Payeng, the Forest Department had allowed sand mining in riverine stretches close to Molai Kathoni. Given the ecological vulnerability of the area, Gogoi said the government and administration should immediately reassess the decision and revoke the mining permissions.
He demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the arson, swift arrest of those responsible, strict punishment for the offenders and decisive action to curb what he described as the growing influence of the sand mafia.
Meanwhile, concerns were also voiced over the safety of Jadav Payeng. The National Students’ Union of India said its Assam unit president, Kaushik Kashyap, met the environmentalist and urged the authorities to provide him with adequate security.
Kashyap said the forest was set on fire while Payeng was away, posing a serious threat to Assam’s ecological balance. He added that people across the state stood united in protecting both the environmentalist and the forest, warning that the public would step in to ensure his safety if the government failed to act.
