Arson at Jadav Payeng’s Forest Triggers Statewide Protests, Sand Mining Nexus Alleged

Widespread protests have erupted across Assam after a section of the forest nurtured by Padma Shri awardee Jadav “Forest Man of India” Payeng was allegedly set on fire, sparking outrage and renewed allegations of an illegal sand mining nexus operating along the Brahmaputra river.
The incident occurred on December 28 at Molai Kathoni 2.0, a riverine forest plantation developed by Jadav Payeng and his daughter Munmuni Payeng near Baghmora on a sandbar of the Brahmaputra. According to environmental activists, the fire destroyed more than 5,500 saplings, along with nests of birds and habitats of small animals, dealing a major blow to years of conservation efforts.
Local residents and volunteers claimed the blaze was not accidental but a deliberate act of arson aimed at clearing resistance against sand mining activities in the area. They alleged that the forest stood in the way of large-scale extraction and had become a symbol of opposition to ecological destruction.
Following the incident, environmental groups, student bodies, and civil society organisations staged protests in several districts, including Jorhat, Majuli, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Nagaon, demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible. Protesters also called for an immediate halt to sand mining in ecologically sensitive riverine zones.
Political leaders have strongly condemned the incident. APCC president Gaurav Gogoi termed the arson “deeply disturbing” and alleged that such acts could not take place without a powerful nexus protecting illegal mining interests. Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia also demanded a judicial probe, alleging unchecked sand mining in several parts of the state.
The Jorhat district administration has temporarily suspended sand mining activities in the affected area and ordered an inquiry by forest and police officials. Authorities said investigations are underway to identify those behind the arson.
Jadav Payeng, known globally for transforming barren sandbars into thriving forests, described the incident as an attack on nature and community-led conservation. Environmentalists warned that repeated attacks on such initiatives could have long-term consequences for biodiversity and riverbank protection in Assam.
The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the conflict between conservation and unregulated resource extraction in the state, with activists demanding stronger enforcement of environmental laws to protect Assam’s fragile ecosystems.