Guwahati, Assam – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that he is closely monitoring the situation in the Karbi Anglong region, where fresh violence has erupted over a long-standing land dispute. The unrest, which began on Monday, December 22, 2025, has already resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to dozens, including police personnel.
The violence is rooted in the demands of the Karbi tribal people for the eviction of alleged encroachers from Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands, which are protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. These reserves are meant to safeguard the land rights of indigenous communities. Tensions have been simmering for over a year, with residents protesting against the settlement of non-tribal individuals on these lands.
The situation escalated after nine individuals, who were on a hunger strike since December 6, 2025, demanding evictions in PGR and VGR lands, were taken into police custody for medical treatment. This sparked rumors of detention, further fueling public anger and mass mobilization. Protesters set fire to shops and houses of non-tribals, vandalized properties, and attacked police forces with stones, arrows, and crude bombs in the Kheroni area of West Karbi Anglong.
One of the deceased was a person with disability from the non-tribal community who died in a fire that gutted shops at Kheroni. The other victim was a tribal protester who succumbed to injuries sustained during clashes. Among the injured were 38 police personnel, including Assam DGP Harmeet Singh and IGP (law and order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh. DGP Harmeet Singh stated that the protestors launched a coordinated assault, attacking with bows, arrows and stones.
In response to the escalating violence, the Assam government has suspended mobile internet services indefinitely in West Karbi Anglong and the adjoining Karbi Anglong district to prevent the spread of misinformation and inflammatory content. However, voice calls and fixed-line broadband services remain operational. Additional security forces are being deployed to Kheroni to maintain peace. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has also been imposed in the district.
Chief Minister Sarma has expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and assured support to those affected by the violence. He stated that the government is committed to restoring normalcy and resolving the issues through dialogue. He also mentioned that the state government was unable to act on the demands of the protestors as the matter was sub judice, with alleged settlers filing petitions in the Gauhati High Court to stay the eviction notices.
Cabinet Minister Ranoj Pegu visited the area on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, and met with members of the Karbi community. He stated that a tripartite discussion involving the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the Government of Assam, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is scheduled for December 26, 2025.
