What caused the violence in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong: History, causes and consequences. explainer news

Central Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district witnessed days of violent unrest earlier this week, leaving two dead, at least 45 injured, shops and markets set on fire, and internet services suspended in both Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

The clashes, which were centered in the Kheroni-Phelangpi belt, were sparked by a prolonged hunger strike over tribal land rights, but the anger overshadows decades of tension over Sixth Schedule protections, demographic concerns, unresolved eviction disputes and insurgency-era grievances.

The violence had escalated to such an extent that security forces had to use tear gas and rubber bullets, protesters used stones, arrows and country-made bombs, the ancestral house of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) chief executive member Tuliram Ronghang was set on fire and the army had to be deployed to stabilize the situation.

What started as a local land movement turned into one of the region’s most serious crises in years.

What was the reason for the spread of violence?

The immediate reason for this was the police action against the hunger strikers who had been on hunger strike for more than two weeks at Phelangpi in West Karbi Anglong. Members of the indigenous Karbi community and other tribal groups had begun a fast unto death demanding eviction of settlers from Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Commercial Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands. These lands, set aside since British times to ensure livestock grazing, come under the jurisdiction of KAAC and are protected under the Sixth Schedule.

Nine people were on hunger strike. On Monday night the authorities removed them from the protest site. Police said he was being taken to Guwahati for treatment as his health was deteriorating after fasting for more than 15 days. But the locals believed that he had been arrested and this belief spread rapidly. The rumors spread anger in the surrounding villages and within hours there were road blockades, stone pelting, arson and vandalism.

By Tuesday, the unrest spread to Kheroni, where clashes intensified. The protesters attacked the police with stones, gas cylinders, arrows and country-made bombs. Many shops, market stalls and houses were set on fire. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to disperse the crowd, but violence continued to escalate.

One of the most explosive moments came when protesters set fire to the ancestral residence of KAAC chief executive member Tuliram Ronghang in Donkamokam, a politically charged act given that Ronghang is a prominent BJP leader and considered close to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

How serious was the violence?

The scale of violence was far more intense than previous outbreaks in the region. More than 45 people, including 38 police personnel, were injured. Senior IPS officers and the state DGP were also reported injured during the clash.

A Bengali man, identified as Suresh Dey, who was disabled, burnt to death after getting trapped in a building during the arson attack in Kheroni market. A protestor from Karbi community also died during the police action. These two deaths hardened the situation and deepened the communal rift.

Authorities imposed prohibitory orders, suspended mobile internet and data services in both districts and deployed additional security forces in sensitive areas. The state DGP confirmed that the Army had to be deployed on Wednesday to maintain law and order, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

As of Wednesday morning, officials said tension in the district was high but under control, though no fresh violence was reported during the night. PTI said prohibitory orders remained in force and security forces continued to protect sensitive areas.

What is the dispute over VGR and PGR land?

The main controversy relates to encroachment on PGR and VGR lands, fodder for livestock and grazing reserves created during the British period to ensure livelihood security for local communities. These lands are protected under the Sixth Schedule, which grants special autonomy to tribal-dominated districts like Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

Tribal groups allege that large areas of these reserves have been illegally occupied by non-tribal settlers, including Bihari, Bengali and Nepali communities. Protesters say the encroachment has spread across 7,184 acres of protected land, eroding tribal rights and threatening the demographic balance.

In February 2024, after several days of agitation by Karbi organizations, Ronghang publicly announced the planned eviction campaign. He said 1,983 families of “illegal residents” were living on grazing land in Hawaipur Mauza under Donkamokam circle, and 103 families were encroaching on grazing land in Phuloni circle. The announcement came soon after a Bihari Noniya community organization submitted a memorandum to President Draupadi Murmu, demanding legalization of the residents living on these reserves.

However, the eviction never took place as the settlers moved the Gauhati High Court, which issued an interim stay. Ronghang pointed out that the council cannot carry out the eviction without violating the court order. This legal blockage left the issue unresolved, frustrating tribal groups who felt their demands were being sidelined indefinitely.

Why has this conflict become so volatile?

West Karbi Anglong has been vulnerable to flare-ups for a long time as its social, political and demographic scenario is extremely sensitive.

This district is overwhelmingly tribal. More than 55 percent of the population of Karbi Anglong and more than 65 percent of the population of West Karbi Anglong belong to Scheduled Tribes. Several tribal communities live here, including the Karbis, Dimasas, Kukis and Garos. For decades, land, identity and self-governance have been inseparable concerns.

Militancy has played a decisive role: Karbi groups have a history of militancy dating back to the late 1980s, rooted in the demand for a separate state. While most factions later agreed to greater autonomy under the KAAC, memories of killings, ethnic violence, taxation, and kidnappings still shape political mobilization and rhetoric.

The Sixth Schedule adds another layer of sensitivity as any perceived weakening of tribal land security is perceived as an existential threat. The long-pending question of eviction was further aggravated by the High Court’s stay, leading to a situation in which tribal bodies were caught between constitutional safeguards and judicial delays.

The matter became worse due to political tension. When Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu visited Kheroni on Tuesday and urged residents to maintain peace, locals raised slogans demanding development and expressed anger over the role of the autonomous council leadership, especially Ronghang, whose house was burnt the previous day.

All this meant that when hunger strikers were transferred, even on medical grounds, it was interpreted as a hostile act, a spark that fell on dry ground.

Although peace has been restored for the time being, the underlying tensions are still unresolved. Christmas, which is widely celebrated across the district, was noticeably lackluster this year. The United Christian Forum (UCF) of Karbi Anglong has urged churches and congregations to scale down celebrations in view of the prohibitory orders still in force and a sense of uneasiness. The forum advised against night-time carol rounds or events outside church premises, noting that many residents remain concerned after the clashes.

With more than 300 churches spread across both districts, the advisory asked congregants to limit gatherings to daytime services and avoid unnecessary travel after dark. The appeal also called upon the communities of both Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong to maintain peace and ensure that the situation does not deteriorate again.