Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati
Guwahati, Dec 23: The law and order situation in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district remained tense on Tuesday evening, with reports of fresh incidents of arson even as security forces intensified efforts to bring the unrest under control.
Assam director general of police Harmeet Singh, who is stationed in the affected area, appealed to protesters to maintain calm and cooperate with the administration. Addressing the media, he said the police were closely tracking developments and had taken all necessary steps to prevent the situation from spiralling further.
According to the DGP, additional security personnel have been deployed at sensitive points across the district to safeguard lives and property. Senior officers are also holding direct discussions with protest leaders and community representatives in an attempt to defuse tensions through dialogue.
Singh issued a strong warning against violence, stating that those involved in arson, vandalism or other unlawful activities would be identified and dealt with strictly under the law. “Violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” he said.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita continue to remain in force in Kheroni and surrounding areas, with officials saying restrictions on gatherings are essential to prevent further flare-ups.
State Minister Ranoj Pegu also urged people to exercise restraint and avoid being misled by rumours or misinformation. Emphasising dialogue as the only solution, he appealed to all sections of society to contribute to restoring peace.
Officials confirmed that a tripartite dialogue involving all key stakeholders has been scheduled for December 26 under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The state government hopes the talks will help address the core issues behind the unrest and lead to a lasting resolution.
While the atmosphere remains tense, senior officials maintained that the situation is under control and said coordinated administrative and security measures are being implemented to gradually restore normalcy.
The district has been on edge since Monday, when violent protests erupted in the Kheroni area. At least four people were injured after police opened fire to disperse an aggressive mob that allegedly set fire to the residence of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang and torched several commercial establishments.
Officials said the violence began in Kheroni Bazaar, where around 15 shops were set ablaze and protesters attempted to storm the local police station. Security forces managed to push back the crowd, but the situation escalated after stone-pelting and arson, forcing police to resort to firing.
The agitation involves members of various political and social organisations who have been on a hunger strike for the past 12 days, demanding the eviction of alleged encroachers from Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong. Protesters claim the encroachers are largely from Bihar and have illegally occupied reserved land.
Authorities said the immediate trigger for the violence was a police attempt to clear protesters from the Kheroni area, which quickly turned confrontational. Three protesters and one policeman were injured during the firing.
Amid the turmoil, protesters alleged that three hunger-strike participants were arrested. However, KAAC chief Tuliram Ronghang later clarified that the individuals were not detained but were shifted to Gauhati Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Tensions escalated further when another group of protesters allegedly set fire to the KAAC chief’s old residence in Donkamokam. In response, security forces were deployed in large numbers across vulnerable areas to prevent any further outbreaks of violence.