The Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) from Dhansiri constituency and Executive Member (EM) of the KAAC allegedly assaulted a Forest official on February 25 evening.
A case (no 37/18 US AFR Act 24, 25) has been registered at the Diphu Police Station on Tuesday.
According to reports, an excavator was used for earth cutting and loading into a dumper at Dhansiri Reserve Forest on February 25.
As per information, the deputy ranger of Dhansiri Reserve Forest DN Harijan, accompanied by a forest guard, MS Kro, visited the site to conduct an enquiry but KAAC EM Prodip Diphusa arrived at the scene at that moment.
After his arrival, EM Diphusa allegedly assaulted the deputy ranger Harijan. Harijan was allegedly assaulted with a lathi with which EM Diphusa rained blows on his head. The incident occurred at about 3 to 4 pm on February 25.
The assault was reportedly so severe that the deputy ranger fell unconscious on the spot. He was admitted to Diphu Civil Hospital on the same day. Deputy ranger Harijan was later taken to Nagaon for better treatment.
There have been allegations that EM Diphusa assisted and encouraged encroachers to settle in Dhansiri Reserve Forest. In his last term as an EM, Dhansiri Reserve Forest encroachers reportedly told the Forest Department officials that it was with the permission from Diphusa that they had deforested the forest reserve.