Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati
Guwahati, Dec 24: At least two persons were killed and more than 45 others injured as Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district witnessed intense violence for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, with agitating protesters torching and vandalising shops and houses belonging to non-tribal communities while demanding the eviction of “outsiders” from protected land.
The protesters, belonging to the Karbi community, went on a rampage in Kheroni area, attacking police personnel with stones, bombs and even arrows. They were demanding the removal of non-tribals from village grazing reserves (VGRs) and professional grazing reserves (PGRs), alleging large-scale encroachment.
Among the deceased was a differently abled man from a non-tribal community, who was charred to death after being trapped inside a building that was set ablaze by the mob. Another protester, who had sustained serious injuries during the violence, later succumbed.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he was “closely monitoring the situation” and announced that additional security forces would be deployed on Wednesday to restore peace. “It is deeply painful that two persons lost their lives during today’s unrest,” the chief minister said in a post on X, adding that the government was in constant touch with all stakeholders to bring the situation under control through dialogue.
The violence erupted despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) being in force since Monday evening. The state government has also temporarily suspended internet and mobile data services in West Karbi Anglong and Karbi Anglong districts.
Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, who has been camping in the district since Monday, said 38 police personnel, including an IPS officer, were injured in the clashes. “They attacked us from two sides. We were hit with bombs, stones and arrows. One of our personnel was struck by an arrow, and I was injured on my shoulder,” Singh told reporters.
He said police exercised restraint and used only tear gas shells and rubber bullets to control the mob. Warning of strict action if violence continued, the DGP appealed to protesters to maintain peace.
The situation had briefly calmed on Monday night after Singh and state education minister Ranoj Pegu visited the affected areas. Pegu had succeeded in persuading the protesters to call off their fortnight-long hunger strike, assuring them that their demands would be addressed through discussions.
However, violence flared up again on Tuesday soon after the minister left the area.
On Monday, protesters had also torched the ancestral house of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, following reports that nine hunger strike participants were arrested by police. The chief minister later clarified that they were shifted to Guwahati due to deteriorating health conditions.
Earlier, protesters had blocked roads and vandalised shops before marching to Donkamokam, Ronghang’s constituency located about 26 km away. Security forces fired blank shots to disperse the crowd, but amid the standoff, Ronghang’s house was set on fire and gutted.
West Karbi Anglong and Karbi Anglong fall under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides special protection to tribal land. Protesters alleged that large tracts of VGR and PGR land had been illegally occupied by outsiders.
Last year, the KAAC administration issued eviction notices to alleged encroachers, which were challenged in the Gauhati High Court. The court subsequently issued an interim stay on the eviction process.