Uttarakhand Villagers Stage Fourth Day of Protests Over Bear Attack and Alleged Forest Department Inaction
Residents of Jamania Gram Panchayat in the Chaukhutia block of Almora district, Uttarakhand, have entered their fourth consecutive day of sustained protests. The demonstrations center on two critical issues: a dangerous bear attack that occurred over two months ago and alleged administrative failures by the local forest department.
Bear Attack Sparks Fear and Frustration
The core of the protest stems from a terrifying incident on December 16, 2025. Two women, Gita Devi and Champa Devi, were seriously injured in a bear attack inside a nearby forest. Since that day, villagers report that the bear continues to roam freely in and around the village, particularly during evening hours. This persistent threat has created a climate of fear, forcing residents to remain indoors after dusk for their own safety.
Protesters express deep frustration with the forest department's response. "The forest department has not visited the village even once in the past two months and has failed to capture the bear responsible for the attacks," stated Sunder Negi, a local resident. The community's demand is clear: immediate and effective action to capture or restrain the animal to restore a sense of security.
Allegations of Unpaid Wages and Broken Promises
Compounding the safety crisis is a financial grievance. Following the attack, the forest department instructed village women to clear bushes along forest paths and around the village as a preventive safety measure. According to the villagers, 118 women were engaged in this labor-intensive bush-cutting work.
However, they allege that payments for this work have not been released. Sunder Negi claims a total payment of Rs 2.36 lakh is pending. Kamla Devi, one of the workers, provided further detail, stating the daily wage was initially set at Rs 300, later reduced to Rs 150, but no payment has been received to date. She also reported that several women suffered injuries while clearing the dense undergrowth.
Furthermore, villagers allege the department gave only verbal assurances about arranging fodder for their livestock, another promise that remains unfulfilled. "We will not withdraw the protest until the payment is made," Sunder Negi asserted. Kamla Devi echoed this resolve: "Until the bear is caught and our dues are cleared, we will continue the sit-in."
Official Response and Stalemate
Residents also claim the local administration had earlier assured them the issue would be resolved within a week, but no concrete action followed, deepening their distrust.
In response to the allegations, Range Forest Officer Gopal Dutt Joshi offered a different perspective. He stated that a payment of Rs 38,000 for the bush-cutting work, calculated according to government-approved rates, was transferred to the account of the Jamania Van Panchayat on the preceding Saturday. "Villagers are demanding more than Rs 2 lakh, but payments can only be made as per approved govt rates," Joshi explained. He also noted that forest staff are conducting regular patrols in the area to monitor the situation.
This discrepancy between the villagers' claims of Rs 2.36 lakh in dues and the department's payment of Rs 38,000 lies at the heart of the ongoing stalemate. The protest in Jamania Gram Panchayat highlights a critical clash between community expectations for safety and compensation and the procedural and budgetary constraints cited by local authorities.
