Bihar villagers clash with forest team sent to remove encroachment, many injured

A forest department-led anti-encroachment drive in Bihar's Bagaha turned violent on Friday after villagers allegedly attacked officials attempting to clear illegal occupation from forest land inside the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR).

A video of the incident showed that an earth-moving heavy-duty machine deployed for the operation was set on fire during the clash, while several people, including forest personnel and local residents, were injured.

The incident prompted authorities to rush additional police forces to the spot and tighten security in the area.

The confrontation took place at Dhanhiya near Thadi village in the Valmikinagar forest range, where a joint team of the Forest Department, district administration and police had launched an exercise to remove encroachments from protected forest land.

According to officials, resistance began soon after the team started the demolition drive.

Reports said a huge crowd of villagers, including women, gathered at the site and objected to the operation.

As tensions escalated, the crowd allegedly surrounded the officials, leading to a violent confrontation. During the unrest, the earth-moving machine being used to remove encroachments was torched.

Around half a dozen people, including members of the forest department and local residents, reportedly suffered injuries in the violence.

Following information about the clash, senior police and administrative officials reached the area with reinforcements.

Authorities dispersed the crowd, restored order and ensured the safe evacuation of the forest department personnel from the site. A heavy deployment of police and forest staff has since been maintained in and around Dhanhiya to prevent any further escalation.

The administration said police acted swiftly after receiving reports of the violence and succeeded in bringing the situation under control.

Officials added that security has been strengthened across the affected area to maintain law and order while consultations are underway with the Forest Department on the next course of action.

Tension continued to prevail in Dhanhiya and nearby villages after the incident, though the situation remained under watch.

The administration has reiterated that the campaign against illegal encroachments on forest land will continue despite the violence. Officials also warned that those responsible for attacking government personnel, damaging public property and obstructing the operation would face strict legal action as the investigation progresses.

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Abhishek Pandey input