Tensions in Assam's West Karbi Anglong district have erupted into violent clashes this week, resulting in two fatalities, dozens of injured police personnel, and widespread arson. The epicenter of the unrest is the Kheroni area, where long-simmering disputes over land and identity have reached a boiling point.
Roots of the Conflict: Land and Demography
The violence is unfolding in the region governed by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), which administers the Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts. This area is protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, granting tribal communities autonomy and regulating land sales to non-tribals.
According to the 2011 Census, Scheduled Tribes constitute about 56% of the population here, with the Karbis being the largest group. However, the region also features significant settlements of Biharis, Bengali Hindus, and Nepalis. Many of these communities reside on lands designated as Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) – tracts historically set aside for livestock grazing, some dating to the British era.
The current flashpoint can be traced to January 2024, when a group representing the Hindi-speaking Nonia community, the Rachnatmak Nonia Sanyukta Sangh, submitted a memorandum to President Draupadi Murmu. They demanded the legalisation of settlements on VGR and PGR land in West Karbi Anglong for those who settled before 2011.
The Eviction Order and Legal Tangles
This demand triggered strong reactions, amplifying existing demographic anxieties. In February 2024, after consultations with various stakeholders, KAAC Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang announced evictions from PGR and VGR lands. The council cited a Supreme Court judgment in the Jagpal Singh vs State of Punjab case, which mandates the removal of illegal occupants from village common land.
The eviction drive targeted approximately 7,000 acres of land housing around 2,000 families. However, the plan hit a legal roadblock. A total of 339 residents filed three separate writ petitions in the Gauhati High Court challenging the eviction. Some petitioners claimed decades-long occupation, while others disputed the land's status as PGR/VGR.
The High Court ordered an interim stay on action against the petitioners and directed the KAAC to clarify the land's classification. Notably, as of September 2024, the KAAC had not submitted its affidavit, with its counsel stating difficulty in locating the original land notification from 1933.
From Protests to Violence: A Timeline of Escalation
With the evictions stalled in court, protests intensified. Earlier in December 2025, nine individuals began a "fast unto death" at Phelangpi in West Karbi Anglong, demanding the evictions proceed. The situation turned violent in the early hours of Monday, December 22, 2025, when police removed these protestors for a medical examination in Guwahati.
This action sparked panic and anger, leading to the clashes in Kheroni on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The violence resulted in two civilian deaths and left a trail of destruction. Protestors remain unsatisfied with the government's reference to the High Court stay, arguing it only protects the 339 petitioners and not all encroachers. They accuse the authorities of reluctance, alleging the Bihari and Bengali populations are considered a political votebank.
The region has a fraught history, including a Karbi insurgency movement for a separate state. The current crisis underscores the complex interplay of indigenous rights, land use policies, and demographic shifts in Assam's Sixth Schedule areas, with the state government and KAAC facing mounting pressure to find a resolution that balances legal mandates with social harmony.
