Silchar, April 18 -- Police have arrested 15 people in Assam's Chirang district in connection with a protest that erupted over the detention of 25 locals for alleged forest encroachment turned violent, injuring over 20 people, including 15 police officers and forest department officials

The forest department had detained 25 locals on Thursday during an operation against alleged encroachment in the Runikhata forest range along the India-Bhutan border, following which a mob gathered outside the Runikhata forest range office next morning and staged a protest seeking the release of those detained.

The protesters alleged that the forest department was selectively detaining Adivasi people while allowing other communities to clear forest land ...