Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi has alleged that the arson incident at Molai Kathoni, the forest created by noted environmentalist Jadav Payeng, could not have taken place without backing from people in power. He said no miscreant would dare to harm such an important forest area unless they were confident of protection from the government. Molai Kathoni is a well-known man-made forest that grew over several decades on a sandbar of the Brahmaputra River. It was developed through the personal effort of Jadav Payeng, who is often referred to as the “Forest Man of India,” with support from his daughter, Munmuni Payeng. The forest is seen as a symbol of conservation in Assam and has received international recognition. Recently, reports emerged that unidentified persons set fire to a portion of the forest area. The incident led to strong reactions across the state, with many environmental and social groups expressing concern. In his response, Gogoi said the news had shocked citizens who care about the environment and natural resources of Assam.
He described the act as hateful and condemnable and questioned the motive behind it. According to him, destroying a forest created through years of effort raises serious doubts about the forces operating in the background. He said such acts are not ordinary incidents and need to be taken seriously.Gogoi stated that without government support or tolerance, miscreants would not feel confident enough to target a forest area that has both ecological and emotional value for the people of Assam. He said the incident reflects badly on the administration and the law-and-order situation.The Congress leader also pointed to possible links with the sand mining trade. Referring to reports in sections of the media, he alleged that the sand mafia may be involved. Gogoi claimed that permission had been granted for sand mining in sensitive riverine zones near Molai Kathoni despite objections from Payeng. He said the authorities should review all such approvals immediately. According to him, sand mining in ecologically fragile areas poses a direct threat to the river system and nearby forests. He urged the government to cancel licences issued for such activities in the vicinity of Molai Kathoni and ensure that environmental concerns are given priority.
Gogoi demanded a thorough investigation into the arson case and said the culprits must be identified and arrested without delay. He called for strict punishment so that similar incidents do not occur in the future. He also urged the administration to dismantle what he described as the influence of the sand mafia in the region.The issue has also raised concerns about the safety of Jadav Payeng himself. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) said its Assam state president, Kaushik Kashyap, met Payeng and discussed the situation. Kashyap said the forest was set on fire when Payeng was away from the area, which increases the risk to both the forest and the environmentalist. Kashyap appealed to the state government to provide adequate security to Payeng. He said people across Assam respect the environmentalist for his life-long work and would not tolerate any threat against him. According to Kashyap, if the government fails to ensure his safety, citizens would feel compelled to stand up in his support.