Golaghat, July 28: Representatives of an NGO and a former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha today staged a two-hour hunger strike protesting against the alleged encroachment by Numaligarh Refinery Limited into the proposed Deopahar reserve forest.

Anirbaan Nature Club, along with litterateur Homen Borgohain, observed the fast near the boundary wall of the extended township project being executed by the refinery at Telgorom on National Highway 39.

They were supported by various social and student organisations, including AASU.

During his interaction with reporters, Borgohain expressed his astonishment at the rampant destruction of the proposed reserve forest by the refinery in the name of building a golf course even after several notices issued by the divisional forest officer restraining it not to carry out such construction.

"It is sad that 16 years after it was declared a proposed reserve forest, the government has done almost nothing to uplift the status of Deopahar to a reserve forest," said the president of Anirbaan, Rakhi Dutta Saikia.

The protesters submitted a four-point charter to Golaghat deputy commissioner Anuwarul Haque seeking his immediate intervention to save Deopahar.

The organisations have demanded to remove the concrete wall erected by the refinery near the proposed reserve forest, which have blocked of the movements of elephant herds.

The refinery said the Golaghat district administration had allotted 67- bigha land adjoining its existing township at Numaligarh in 2010 for construction of additional dwelling units for its employees. "This land has been in its possession ever since and regular land revenue is being deposited towards the same," the refinery said.

The refinery said a boundary wall to demarcate the allotted land was constructed in 2011 and while doing so adequate measures were taken not to disturb the surrounding environment.

Forest officials, on the other hand, said the boundary wall was blocking the movement of elephants.