varanasi: A joint team of the forest department and district administration was allegedly attacked by villagers during an anti-encroachment drive in Bhardua village under Jaimohani range of Naugarh in Chandauli on Wednesday. Officials said that villagers pelted stones and attacked staff with sticks when the team arrived to remove alleged encroachments from forest land.Several officials and employees were injured, including forest inspector Prashant, forest guards Mulayam, Bhola and Pramod, four lekhpals and a daily-wage worker. Police from seven stations were called in and more than 18 people were detained for questioning. Heavy police force and PAC personnel were deployed in the area following the incident.According to the forest department, around 30 hectares of government forest land in Bhaisoda compartment No. 14 of the Jaimohani range had allegedly been encroached upon for years and was being used for cultivation. Paddy and chilli crops had been sown on the land. After Forest Range Officer Amit Srivastava informed senior officials, District Magistrate Chandra Mohan Garg directed a joint eviction drive.The operation was conducted under the leadership of Naugarh SDM Amarchand Verma, CO Devendra Kumar and Tehsildar Rahul Singh. Forest teams from Naugarh, Chandraprabha and Majhgai ranges, along with revenue officials, reached the site. A rotavator was used to clear crops standing on nearly 30 hectares of the land.After the crops were removed, security trenches were dug with four JCB machines to prevent re-encroachment. Officials said the land had been taken back into the possession of the forest department and arrangements were being made for round-the-clock monitoring and patrolling.Villagers opposed the drive, claiming that their families had been cultivating the land for nearly 50 years. They alleged that they were being evicted without adequate notice. As the protest intensified, some villagers allegedly pelted stones at the officials and attacked them with sticks, forcing forest and revenue personnel to retreat.Police intervened as the situation deteriorated. There was pushing and shoving between police and villagers, and police used mild force to disperse the crowd. After nearly four hours of unrest, the situation was brought under control and the eviction drive was completed.Police teams from Naugarh, Chakraghatta, Sahabganj, Ilia, Baburi, Chakia and Chandauli police stations were deployed at the spot, along with PAC personnel.Forest officials said the disputed land was govt forest land and that private occupation or cultivation was not permitted. Forest Range Officer Amit Srivastava appealed to people not to encroach upon forest land and warned that FIRs and legal action would be taken against violators.Chandauli SP Akash Patel, who also reached the spot, said the land dispute had been continuing for a long time. He said an FIR would be registered against those who allegedly obstructed govt work, attacked officials and encroached upon forest land. More than 18 people had been detained and were being questioned, he added.
