Forest Guards Lead Security for Polling in Assam's Remote National Park
As voting concluded at the isolated Laika and Dodhia polling stations within Dibru Saikhowa National Park in upper Assam, a unique security detail took charge. Instead of police, armed forest guards escorted the polling teams back to district headquarters in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh, respectively. This operation highlighted the extraordinary challenges of conducting elections in a protected forest area spanning 340 square kilometers.
Navigating Wild Terrain and Weather Challenges
In this difficult terrain, the primary risk was not electronic voting machine (EVM) snatching but potential encounters with wild animals. Dibru Saikhowa, known for its populations of wild elephants and big cats, posed a serious challenge for the safe movement of polling staff, exacerbated by heavy rain that persisted since morning. Despite the poor weather conditions, forest residents turned out in significant numbers, crossing rivers and dense jungle to exercise their democratic right.
The two polling stations serve approximately 3,700 voters living in the protected forest area, primarily in the villages of Laika and Dodhia. These communities have been inhabited for decades by people displaced by floods and erosion, adding a layer of resilience to their electoral participation.
Coordinated Security and Peaceful Operations
Forest guards secured both polling stations, patrolled forest paths and river routes, and remained posted at anti-poaching camps as hundreds of voters moved through the park. Operations were coordinated from the Guijan Range Headquarters, with officials reporting no untoward incidents throughout the day.
Although voting ended at 5 pm, forest personnel continued their efforts for several hours, navigating forests and river channels to assist in transporting EVMs for storage in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh. Polling teams began their return from both stations around 6:30 pm. With walking and boats as the only means of travel in the park's core area, they were expected to reach Guijan Ghat first and then continue by vehicle to their destinations around 9:30 pm.
Voter Experiences and Turnout Details
Debasish Dutta, the Guijan forest range officer who supervised the forest teams, stated, "Forest staff were escorting polling personnel through dark jungle stretches and waterways around 8 pm. The day was exhausting but peaceful, with no reports of wild animal attacks."
Nearly 2,000 voters from Dodhia cast their votes, though many elderly residents stayed away due to the heavy rain. Pranjal Kachari, a young voter from Dodhia, left home at 5 am and reached the polling station around 10 am after walking 3 to 5 kilometers through dense forest. He reported that his group of about 60 voters arrived at the Dodhia Upper Primary School polling station, where approximately 1,400 villagers had already gathered. By 4 pm, voting was over, and they returned after crossing the Dibru River, a rivulet, and various forest stretches.
Pranjal's 75-year-old father made the journey with the aid of a wooden stick, while his 70-year-old ailing mother remained home due to the inclement weather. Dodhia recorded around 72% voter turnout, while Laika reported about 60% at the time of the last update. Notably, around 160 families from Laika were previously relocated to the Jagun area of Tinsukia district and reportedly could not vote.
Laika had about 1,300 registered voters, with around 15 forest personnel deployed there due to its remoteness. Dodhia had approximately seven forest personnel assigned for overall security, ensuring a smooth and incident-free polling process in this challenging environment.
