Forest guards kill Muslim brothers: Assam CM accused of inciting communal tension

In a tragic incident that has sparked widespread outrage, two Muslim brothers, Somar Uddin (36) and Abdul Jalil (44), were killed by state forest department guards on suspicion of poaching in Assam's Nagaon district.

The incident occurred in the early hours of June 22 near Roumari Beel under Gorajan Forest at the Laokhowa Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary. The brothers, residents of the nearby Dhingbori Chapori village, were allegedly trespassing in the wildlife sanctuary when they were shot dead by forest guards who mistook them for poachers.

The killings have led to an uproar among activists, politicians, and opposition parties, who view the incident as a blatant violation of human rights.

Criticism has also been directed towards Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, with accusations that communal undertones influence his administration's actions. This incident adds to the growing concerns about the use of state machinery for political purposes under Sarma’s leadership.

The All-Assam Students’ Union (AAMSU) has been at the forefront of demanding justice for the slain brothers. On June 27, AAMSU submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Sarma, calling for justice and monetary compensation for the victims' families.

AAMSU filed a First Information Report on June 24 at Juria police station, accusing four forest department officials of the deliberate killing of the brothers. According to Ainuddin Ahmed, AAMSU's advisor, the brothers were unarmed farmers and not poachers, and their deaths represent targeted violence against poor Muslims in the region.

Contrary to the claims of AAMSU, local police sources quoted by the Press Trust of India reported that the brothers were engaged in illegal fishing activities and attempted to flee when confronted by the forest guards.

This led to the guards opening fire, resulting in the deaths of Uddin and Jalil. However, this version of events has been met with scepticism by various stakeholders who question the necessity and justification for the use of lethal force.

Chief Minister Sarma responded to the incident via social media, stating that he had instructed the Assam Chief Secretary to conduct a thorough investigation. Despite this, criticism has continued to mount, with prominent political figures and human rights activists denouncing the killings as an egregious abuse of power and a failure to uphold legal and ethical standards.

Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan emphasized that the incident reflects deeper issues of law and order in Assam and accused Sarma of fostering a climate of communal tension. Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Debabrata Saikia, condemned the forest department's actions as a clear violation of human rights, asserting that no legal framework permits such measures.