Cooch Behar Administration Imposes Curbs: In the wake of recent wild boar attacks that left villagers dead and several others injured, the Cooch Behar district administration in North Bengal has imposed strict restrictions on public gatherings and movement in certain flood-hit areas. The decision, taken under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, came after a spate of tragic incidents triggered widespread fear and chaos among residents in rural parts of Mathabhanga and Ghoksadanga.
The administration said the curbs were essential to prevent further loss of life as multiple reports of wild animals—primarily boars—wandering into villages emerged following severe floods that have displaced both humans and wildlife.
Panic Grips Flood-Hit Villages After Fatal Boar Attacks
The unprecedented floods across North Bengal have forced animals from forested regions to seek higher ground, pushing them closer to human settlements. This sudden shift has led to multiple conflicts between villagers and displaced wildlife.
In the latest string of incidents, two residents of Mathabhanga subdivision were killed in separate wild boar attacks within 24 hours, leading to widespread alarm.
The victims, identified as Dhiren Barman and Kashikanta Barman, were reportedly mauled while carrying out routine chores near the riverbanks. Witnesses described the boars as unusually aggressive, possibly due to exhaustion and hunger following their displacement by the floods.
Residents now fear venturing into the fields or forest edges for work, firewood, or fishing, as boar sightings have become increasingly common in villages like Baro Shimulguri, Bhelakopa, and Tetlichara under Ghoksadanga police station.
A villager described the horror:
“The animals come at night or early morning. We hear grunts and squeals near our huts. It’s terrifying. We can’t even go to the river to collect water.”
Administrative Crackdown: Curbs on Crowding and Movement
In response to the escalating tension, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Navneet Mittal of Mathabhanga subdivision issued an emergency order restricting public movement in non-forest zones. The order, which applies primarily to flood-affected belts near forest boundaries, prohibits large gatherings, fairs, or community events until the threat subsides.
The restrictions are meant to minimize human-wildlife encounters while allowing forest and police personnel to conduct coordinated containment and rescue operations.
According to officials, crowd restrictions will remain in place until forest authorities confirm that the situation is under control.
The SDO’s office has also sent copies of the order to the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, Divisional Forest Officer, Block Development Officer, and local police authorities.
A senior official stated:
“The curbs are preventive, not punitive. We have to protect lives and allow forest teams to operate without interference or panic-driven crowds.”
Cooch Behar Administration Imposes Curbs: Forest and Police Joint Operation
A combined operation involving forest rangers, police, and local administration has been launched to monitor animal movement and safely guide wild boars back into forested areas.
Armed with tranquilizers, nets, and drones, forest teams have been patrolling the flood-hit peripheries since Thursday night.
The rescue teams have been working around the clock, despite the challenges posed by flooded terrain and limited visibility. Officers say the situation demands extreme caution, as wild boars can charge suddenly when threatened.
One forest ranger shared:
“These animals are distressed and disoriented. The floods have destroyed their foraging areas. We’re trying to move them safely, but any sudden human presence can trigger aggression.”
Villagers have been urged not to attempt to scare or chase the animals and instead report any sighting to the Ghoksadanga police station or forest control room immediately.
Floods and Wildlife: The Ecological Fallout
The wild boar attacks highlight a larger environmental crisis unfolding across flood-affected North Bengal. With riverbanks breached and forest corridors inundated, displaced wildlife is increasingly entering human habitation zones.
According to forest officials, boars, rhinos, and deer from areas near Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri have been straying into farmlands and roads after their natural habitats were submerged.
Experts from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) explain that sudden floods disrupt animal navigation patterns, pushing them to higher ground—often occupied by humans. The stress of displacement, coupled with food scarcity, can provoke unusual aggression even in typically non-hostile species.
Environmental researchers have urged long-term strategies such as the creation of raised wildlife corridors, temporary feeding zones, and sensor-based early warning systems to reduce human-animal confrontations during extreme weather events.
For more on human-wildlife conflict management, visit the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change website.
Residents Demand Safety, Compensation, and Awareness
Residents of the affected regions have demanded immediate safety measures and compensation for the victims’ families.
The Forest Department has already announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for the deceased victims’ kin, as per the wildlife conflict compensation policy.
Local leaders have called for night patrols and street lighting in vulnerable areas to help prevent surprise encounters. Some villagers have also requested that forest guards be stationed near agricultural fields until the situation stabilizes.
A community volunteer in Khopaduli remarked:
“We are scared to even step out after sunset. The government must deploy guards at night. People can’t survive in fear every day.”
The Legal and Administrative Framework
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, under which Section 163 is invoked, allows authorities to impose temporary restrictions on movement to ensure public safety during emergencies.
Officials argue that this law empowers the administration to act quickly and prevent unnecessary crowding, which can provoke further animal attacks or obstruct rescue operations.
Legal experts say such curbs are both preventive and protective, designed to balance public safety with ecological conservation. The measure ensures that residents remain indoors, minimizing chances of human-animal conflict while giving forest teams freedom to operate.
For the full text of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, visit the Legislative Department of India.
Recurring Pattern of Conflict in North Bengal
Wild boar attacks are not new to the region. In 2022 and 2023, similar incidents were reported after flash floods in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts. Wildlife experts trace this recurring pattern to the encroachment of agricultural lands into forest areas and the impact of erratic rainfall patterns due to climate change.
Data from the West Bengal Forest Department indicates that human-wildlife encounters have increased by over 40% in North Bengal since 2019, primarily involving elephants, leopards, and boars.
Flood-driven displacement is a growing concern, with experts urging better land management and ecological zoning around rivers like Torsa and Kaljani, which often overflow during monsoons.
Efforts to Restore Normalcy
As part of the containment effort, forest officials are setting up temporary fencing and barricades to guide the animals away from human settlements. Loudspeakers have been installed in marketplaces to broadcast warnings and safety guidelines.
The district administration has also requested assistance from the Wildlife Division of North Bengal, which may deploy additional personnel and tranquilizer specialists from Siliguri.
Residents have been assured that normal movement will resume only after field teams confirm that no wild animals remain in inhabited zones.
A Delicate Balance Between Humans and Nature
The Cooch Behar wild boar attacks have reignited discussions on the fragile balance between human development and wildlife conservation. With climate change causing frequent floods, the overlap between forest and human territories is deepening.
Wildlife experts emphasize that coexistence, rather than confrontation, must guide future planning. Conservationists are calling for integrated policies involving disaster management, animal behavior monitoring, and rural safety awareness.
A senior ecologist from Kolkata University noted:
“What we’re seeing is not random violence from animals but ecological distress. As their homes vanish, they come to ours. The solution lies not in fear, but in restoring balance.”
Looking Ahead
For now, life in Cooch Behar’s flood-affected villages remains tense. The government’s swift administrative response has brought temporary relief, but the trauma of the attacks lingers.
Authorities hope that with persistent vigilance, public awareness, and ecological management, future disasters can be prevented or mitigated.
Residents, however, continue to live on edge—caught between floodwaters and the forests that have long defined their lives.
For official advisories and safety updates from the district administration, visit the Cooch Behar District Website.
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