Violence worsens in Assam’s Karbi Anglong: IPS officers injured, shops set on fire, internet snapped

“I had myself gone to speak to the crowd directly. But now they are attacking the police from two sides. Around 38 policemen have been injured, including IPS officers… Yesterday they had promised that we would not destroy any more shops. They dragged out cylinders from shops and burst them. They are attacking with arrows and stones. There will be no resolution in this way,” Assam DGP Harmeet Singh, who is present at the site, told reporters there.

The situation in Kheroni had appeared to calm down on Tuesday morning. The tension in these two tribal majority hill districts – which are under the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council – is connected to a hunger strike that was undertaken for the past two weeks by nine individuals at Phelangpi in West Karbi Anglong demanding evictions in PGR (professional grazing reserve) and VGR (village grazing reserve) lands – which include Bihari and Nepali families – in the council’s area, a long-standing demand by Karbi tribal bodies. The tensions flared after the protesters on hunger strike were taken away from the site on Monday, which police said was to give them medical treatment in Guwahati.

Following the escalation of violence in the area, the Home Department of the Assam government issued an order stopping internet and mobile data services in the districts with immediate effect, citing “serious apprehension that there might be a likelihood of breach of public peace and tranquillity”. As per the order, it is apprehended that “social media and internet may be used to further spread inflammatory messages, rumours, etc that may lead to further aggravation of the situation”.

On Tuesday, the area was visited by Cabinet Minister Ranoj Pegu. Following his visit, he said that the protesters had decided to call off the hunger strike. “I met members of the Karbi community in Kheroni Phelangpi, where they had been observing a fast unto death demanding, among other issues, evictions of the encroachments in Kheroni VGR/PGR. Following my appeal, the agitators agreed to call off their hunger strike and consented to a tripartite discussion involving the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the Government of Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will chair the discussion on December 26,” he said. The violence flared up again after he left the area.

Sukrita Baruah is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this strategic hub, she provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of India's North East, a region characterized by its complex ethnic diversity, geopolitical significance, and unique developmental challenges. Expertise and Experience Ethnic & Social Dynamics: Deep-dive coverage of regional conflicts (such as the crisis in Manipur) and peace-building efforts. Border & Geopolitics: Tracking developments along India’s international borders and their impact on local communities. Governance & Policy: Reporting on state elections, tribal council decisions, and the implementation of central schemes in the North East. Specialized Education Background: Prior to her current role, Sukrita was a dedicated Education Correspondent for The Indian Express in Delhi. This experience provided her with a sharp analytical lens for: Policy Analysis: Evaluating the National Education Policy (NEP) and university-level reforms. Student Affairs: Covering high-stakes stories regarding campus politics, national entrance exams, and the challenges within the primary and secondary education sectors. ... Read More

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