The Khandwa district administration in Madhya Pradesh launched a large-scale anti-encroachment operation on Monday, 29 June, mobilising over 600 personnel to reclaim illegally occupied forest land in the Amakhujri forest under the Gudi range. The crackdown came a day after eight forest guards were injured in a violent stone-pelting attack while attempting to halt fresh cultivation on protected land.

What Triggered the Operation

On Sunday, 28 June, a 40-member flying squad of the Forest Department was allegedly set upon by approximately 400 encroachers when the team moved to stop new cultivation activity following the onset of the monsoon season. According to forest officials, women were allegedly positioned at the front of the crowd while others in the group attacked the squad with stones fired from slingshots and wooden sticks. All eight injured guards — members of a specialised flying squad formed in 2025 specifically to tackle forest encroachments — are currently undergoing treatment at the district hospital.

Scale of Monday's Deployment

To prevent a recurrence of Sunday's violence, authorities deployed around 400 forest personnel, nearly 200 police constables, and officers from the Revenue Department, alongside 30 JCB machines. Notably, 60 women police personnel wearing protective jackets were stationed at the site as a precautionary measure, given that women had allegedly been used to shield the attackers the previous day.

A minor incident occurred during the operation when a tear gas canister in a police vehicle fitted with a drone-based tear gas system leaked after the vehicle traversed rough forest terrain. The canister was opened immediately and the gas safely dispersed. The incident did not disrupt the operation.

Progress on the Ground

Additional Superintendent of Police Mahendra Tarnekar, who is overseeing security arrangements, said wet ground slowed progress in the morning, but approximately 30 per cent of the encroached area had already been cleared by midday. 'The situation is peaceful, and there has been no resistance so far,' he said. Collector Rishabh Gupta and Superintendent of Police Agam Jain also visited the site to monitor the drive.

History of Encroachment in Amakhujri

This is not the first time the Forest Department has acted in the Amakhujri forest. Officials said the department had previously cleared nearly 500 acres of encroached land and dug contour trenches to prevent fresh occupation. However, around 200 acres were allegedly re-encroached and brought under cultivation, prompting the renewed eviction drive. The pattern of clearance followed by re-encroachment underscores the persistent challenge facing forest authorities in the region.

Legal Action and Next Steps

District Forest Officer Rakesh Kumar Damor confirmed that an FIR has been registered following Sunday's attack and action has been taken against nine identified persons. 'The anti-encroachment drive is continuing under adequate security,' he said. Forest officials added that efforts are ongoing to identify others involved in the attack, and the department has formally sought permanent police protection for all future anti-encroachment operations.