Guwahati: Heavy machinery is tearing up the landscape in Kathalguri village. Residents living near the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam’s Nagaon district report constant sand extraction. The illegal digging has continued for a full year.
Operations run day and night. Excavators pull sand from depths of 50 to 60 feet to sell for profit. Locals blame Shafiqul Islam, the son of Akbar Ali, for running the illicit operation. The digging puts local agricultural plots and public roads at risk. Environmentalists warn the sanctuary faces significant biodiversity threats.
"An FIR has been lodged against Shafiqul Islam at Juria Police Station in connection with the alleged sand mining." Concerned citizens now demand a swift investigation from the district administration and the Forest Department. They want authorities to take strict legal action against those responsible for the environmental damage.
Updated at 19th August 2026 at 1:50pm
The Nagaon Forest Department recently cracked down on a separate illegal sand operation in the Tinsukia area of Juria. Officials raided a pond owned by local resident Zakir Hussain, seizing a sand-extraction machine, a pump, and various pipes used for the work. Complaints from residents had highlighted that the unregulated boring methods were damaging nearby homes and property.
Forest officials made no arrests during the Tinsukia raid. They have declined to provide specific details while the investigation continues, but they are currently working to determine the full extent of the property damage and confirm the lack of legal permits for the extraction.
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