Hyderabad, July 17 -- Two Muslims were killed and several were injured in Assam's Goalpara district after police opened fire during clashes with locals at the Paikan Reserve Forest on Wednesday, July 17.

The deceased have been identified as Shakuar Hussain and Kutubuddin Sheikh.

The violence erupted after forest and police officials attempted to evict residents allegedly living illegally on forest land. According to the police, the firing was in self-defence after members of the eviction team were attacked with stones and sticks.

Videos of residents pelting stones, chasing officials, and vandalising a bulldozer brought in for the operation. In response, security personnel pushed them back and tensions spiralled.

Reacting to the latest...