Fresh Violence Erupts in Karbi Anglong, Assam

PTI, DIPHU/GUWAHATI, DEC 23, 2025: Fresh violence erupted in Assam's trouble-torn Karbi Anglong district on Tuesday with at least eight people injured as two groups of protesters clashed. The police resorted to lathi charge and firing of tear-gas shells to disperse them, officials said.

Despite prohibitory orders in force, a large number of people, including women and children whose shops were burnt by a mob on Monday, came out to protest against the violence. At the same time, agitators demanding eviction of encroachers from the tribal belt also gathered in the Kheroni market area.

Both groups were agitated, and the security forces deployed in the area tried to pacify them. However, suddenly stone pelting began from both sides, injuring several protestors, police personnel, and media persons covering the incident, a senior police officer said.

As the situation spiralled out of control, the police resorted to lathi charge and then fired tear gas shells to disperse both groups of protesters, he added. The situation is "tense" in the area, and additional forces have been rushed to the spot. The protesters had earlier torched two motorcycles in the Kheroni area.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the "situation in Karbi Anglong is very sensitive." "Senior minister Ranoj Pegu is present in the district. I believe that the matter will be resolved soon," Sarma said on the sidelines of a programme.

Earlier on Tuesday, protesters called off their hunger strike demanding the eviction of encroachers from tribal belt areas following talks with Pegu. The agitators, belonging to several political and social organisations, had been on a hunger strike for the last 15 days, demanding the eviction of illegal settlers. Pegu held talks with protesters, and they called off their hunger strike following assurances from the government that tripartite talks will be held on the issue soon. The chief minister will be present in the meeting, Pegu said.

On Monday, four people were injured in police firing on protesters who went on a rampage, setting ablaze the residence of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang and around 15 shops in Kheroni Bazaar. The protesters also attempted to attack the police station in Kheroni on Monday, but it was foiled by security forces.

Prohibitory orders were imposed in Karbi Anglong and in neighbouring West Karbi Anglong district. Night curfew was also imposed in Karbi Anglong district with restrictions on the movement of any person or groups and private vehicles throughout the district from 5 pm to 6 am. Pegu arrived at Kheroni on Monday night to review the situation. DGP Harmeet Singh also rushed to Karbi Anglong, visited the affected areas, and reviewed the prevailing situation.

Pegu said that additional forces have been rushed to the area from neighbouring districts and the "situation is under control." "A section of the people are angry that the encroachers are settling on PGR and VGR land, and there was an attempt to evict them last year, but a petition was filed in the Gauhati High Court, which passed an interim order staying the eviction process," he said. The matter can be resolved only through dialogue, and "We are holding discussions with both protesters and the encroachers," Pegu added.

The protesters are demanding the eviction of encroachers, most of whom hail from Bihar, from Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands in the two districts. The police allegedly tried to remove the protesters forcibly in the Kheroni area of Karbi Anglong, following which a clash ensued.

The protesters also alleged that the police had arrested three persons who were on hunger strike, but KAAC chief Tuliram Ronghang later told reporters that they were admitted to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital.