GUWAHATI: Frustrated over recurring elephant incursions and alleged inaction by the Forest Department, villagers in Assam's Bihguri region staged a protest late Thursday night, blocking National Highway 15 for nearly two hours.
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The protest stemmed from widespread crop destruction by wild elephants over the past month in the Bihguri, Jarnai, and Tinkharia areas. Residents accused forest officials of neglecting the growing human-wildlife conflict, which has disrupted their lives and livelihoods.
Starting at 10 PM, hundreds of villagers occupied the highway, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. The blockade was eventually lifted around 11:30 PM after intervention from district administration and forest officials. However, villagers expressed dissatisfaction with the assurances provided, citing a lack of concrete measures to resolve the issue.
Forest Department officials have not disclosed specific plans to address the elephant incursions, which have become a recurring challenge in Assam. The human-elephant conflict remains a pressing concern in several districts, with regular reports of crop damage and property destruction.
