Nearly a month after several forest officers were allegedly attacked while trying to stop the construction of an artificial pond for Chhath Puja preparations on forest land in Tughlakabad, the Delhi Forest department’s complaint to the police, filed on October 15, is yet to be turned into an FIR, officials have claimed.
The land, according to the officials, falls under the Southern Ridge, where non-forestry activity is not allowed without approval.
The Delhi Police did not comment on the matter when contacted by The Indian Express.
According to the complaint submitted by the Range Forest Officer of the Asola Bhatti Range, a group of people allegedly assaulted the department’s staff when they intervened to prevent the encroachment on forest land during preparations for Chhath Puja on October 14.
The letter to the Station House Officer of Sangam Vihar police station requested registration of an FIR under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for offences including “obstruction, misbehaviour, deadly assault and intimidation of a public servant on duty.”
The complaint also mentioned that the officials were threatened with an axe and other “sharp weapons”, and one forest guard sustained
serious injuries while his uniform was torn in the alleged mob attack.
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The department stated that a police team reached the location, which helped the forest officials to avoid further harm.
“During regular patrolling…the beat officer concerned in Tughlakabad observed that some illegal construction was undertaken by local residents of Sangam Vihar… it was found that a Chhath ghat was being constructed…on the directions of MLA Chandan Choudhary,” the complaint mentioned.
When contacted, Sangam Vihar MLA and BJP leader Chandan Choudhary said the matter had been resolved the same day and described it as a “misunderstanding”. “Chhath Puja has been organised at this site for about 20 years. The land belongs to the DDA, and they have given an NOC for such festivities. It was a small confusion that was cleared that day itself,” he said.
Choudhary added that the police officers enquired about the incident and that the issue had been resolved.
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Forest officials, however, maintained that the land where the incident occurred falls within a notified forest area. “Once a preliminary notification under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act has been issued, the ownership of the land is immaterial…it is classified as forest, and the department is responsible for its protection. Even if someone disputes that, it does not give anyone the right to threaten or assault an on-duty government officer,” an official said.
A report of the incident by the department states that it occurred “at khasras no. 1621 in village Tughlakabad, which is a proposed reserve forest land under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927…”
Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Professional Background
Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education.
Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses:
1. The Air Pollution Crisis
"A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure.
"Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR.
"Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter.
2. Enforcement & Regulations
"No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy.
3. Education Policy
"Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025.
"Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation.
Signature Style
Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws.
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