NAGAON, Jan 3 - A group of encroachers today attacked Jitendar Kumar, District Forest Officer (Wildlife), Nagaon at Lathimari under Burhachapari Wildlife Sanctuary and damaged his official vehicle while carrying out an eviction drive.
According to sources, the DFO along with his staff went to Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary early morning and immediately a group of agitated encroachers numbering 150 attacked his official vehicle with sharp weapons. Two of his staff sustained injuries in the attack and they were later hospitalized. The DFO, however, escaped unhurt in the attack.
Later, a team of Juria Police station arrived at the spot and rescued the DFO and his staff.
Talking to this correspondent, Kumar said that he had gone to the spot to evict the encroachers as per the directive of the State Government. �The people have been encroaching forest land and they were asked several occasions to clear the forest area,� he said, adding that an FIR will be lodged in this regard. He also asserted the eviction drive would continue.
It is learnt that several areas of forest land of Nagaon are now in the grip of encroachers, and accordingly the district Forest department has chalked out a strategy to clear the land.
