Assam: Karbi Anglong Violence Leaves Two Dead, Dozens Injured

GUWAHATI-  Fresh clashes and incidents of arson have pushed parts of Assam’s Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts into unrest, leaving at least two people dead and more than 45 injured, including a large number of police personnel. The violence, which entered its third day on Wednesday, is linked to long-standing tribal demands for the eviction of alleged illegal settlers from protected grazing reserve lands.

The unrest began on December 22, 2025, when protesters, largely from the Karbi tribal community, set fire to the ancestral residence of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member and BJP leader Tuliram Ronghang at Dongkamukam. Several shops and vehicles were also torched in the Kheroni area, signalling a sharp escalation of the agitation.

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The protests are tied to a nearly two-week hunger strike by nine individuals at Phelangpi in West Karbi Anglong. The hunger strikers have been demanding the eviction of non-tribal settlers, often described by protesters as migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, from Village Grazing Reserves (VGRs) and Professional Grazing Reserves (PGRs). These lands fall under special protections in Sixth Schedule autonomous council areas and are intended to safeguard the livelihood and land rights of indigenous communities.

Tensions intensified on December 23 when clashes erupted in Kheroni between protesting groups and security forces, as well as between rival factions. According to official accounts and local reports, mobs allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, use of arrows, crude bombs and other weapons. Security forces responded with lathi-charges, tear gas shells and, in some cases, blank firing to disperse the crowds.

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One tribal protester reportedly died from injuries sustained during clashes with police, while a non-tribal individual was killed in a fire that broke out in Kheroni market during arson attacks. Officials said more than 45 people were injured, including between 38  police personnel, along with protesters and civilians.

In response to the deteriorating law and order situation, the Assam government imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), banning the assembly of five or more people, rallies, torch processions and the use of loudspeakers. Movement restrictions were also enforced from 5 pm to 6 am in the affected areas. Mobile internet and data services were temporarily suspended in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts to prevent the spread of rumours and inflammatory content, though voice calls and fixed-line broadband services remain operational. Additional security forces, including units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have been deployed.

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the situation as “very sensitive” and said the state government was closely monitoring developments. Senior minister Ranoj Pegu visited the affected areas to engage with protesters and announced plans for tripartite talks involving the state government, the KAAC and representatives of the agitators. The talks may be chaired by the chief minister.

As of early December 24, no major fresh incidents of violence had been reported, though the situation remained tense with heavy security deployment and night curfew restrictions in place. Officials have appealed for calm, particularly in view of the ongoing festive season.