In a significant escalation, the Assam government has called in the Army to restore order in the violence-stricken West Karbi Anglong district. The region is witnessing its third consecutive day of intense protests, driven by long-simmering tensions over alleged illegal settlements by non-tribal communities on protected tribal lands.
Violence Erupts Over Land Rights Dispute
The immediate trigger for the unrest is the demand by the indigenous Karbi community to evict what they claim are Hindi-speaking encroachers from professional and village grazing reserves. These areas fall under the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, which is governed by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This special provision grants tribal communities autonomy over land, forests, and local governance to protect their indigenous rights.
For over a year, local residents have been protesting, asserting that unchecked settlement is eroding their constitutional land protections. The situation turned violent when protests escalated into direct clashes between tribal groups and security forces.
Casualties and Police Response
The clashes have resulted in a tragic loss of life and numerous injuries. Two people have been confirmed dead: one tribal protester during police action and a non-tribal man in a fire that gutted several shops in Kheroni town, now the epicenter of the unrest.
The police force itself suffered significant casualties. Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Harmeet Singh confirmed that 48 police personnel, including senior officers, were injured. The DGP and IGP (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh were among those hurt. Singh described a violent confrontation where protesters, armed with bows, arrows, crude bombs, and stones, attacked security forces who intervened to prevent them from taking control of a bridge. The police claim to have video evidence and have vowed legal action against the attackers.
Government Measures and Legal Hurdle
Faced with the deteriorating law and order situation, the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led state government has imposed curfew-like restrictions and suspended mobile internet services in two affected districts to prevent the spread of rumors and further mobilization.
However, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma indicated a legal complication in addressing the core demand. He stated that the eviction of alleged encroachers cannot be acted upon immediately as the matter is under a stay order issued by the Gauhati High Court. This judicial intervention presents a complex challenge for the administration, caught between urgent public demand and legal procedure.
The deployment of the Army marks a critical point in the state's efforts to quell the violence, highlighting the severity of the clashes rooted in the sensitive and historically charged issue of land rights in Assam's tribal areas.
