A massive security blanket has been thrown over Assam’s hill districts as the state government shuts down mobile internet to curb spiraling violence and “inflammatory” rumors following deadly clashes over land eviction demands.
The Assam government indefinitely suspended mobile internet and data services in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts on Tuesday (December 23) after a wave of arson and violent clashes left two people dead. The order, issued by the Home and Political Department, aims to stop the spread of misinformation through social media after a long-running land dispute between indigenous tribal groups and settlers turned into a riot.
The unrest was sparked by an indefinite hunger strike launched on December 6 by indigenous Karbi groups demanding the eviction of “outsiders” from Village Grazing Reserves and Professional Grazing Reserves. These lands are protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to safeguard tribal land rights.
Things spiraled out of control on Monday after police tried to move hunger-striking leaders to a hospital in Guwahati because their health was getting worse. Protesters apparently mistook the medical evacuation for an arrest, triggering a “rampage” that included:
- Arson: Protesters torched the ancestral home of the Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuliram Ronghang, in Donkamokam.
- Fatalities: A 25-year-old specially-abled man, Suresh Dey, was burned to death inside a building set on fire in Kheroni. A protester, Athik Timung, also died from injuries sustained during the clashes.
- Injuries: Over 48 police personnel, including Director General of Police Harmeet Singh and senior IPS officers, were hurt after being attacked with arrows, stones, and bombs.
“Violence does not get anything for anybody,” DGP Harmeet Singh said. He’s currently staying in the district to monitor the situation. “Last night, their leader was taken to Guwahati for a medical check-up… someone spread misinformation that he is being arrested. We are ready to find a solution through talks.”
IGP (Law & Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh added, “The mob set ablaze the residence of the CEM… we are mobilizing extra forces to bring the situation to normalcy.”
The land dispute is stuck in a legal mess. While the KAAC issued eviction notices in early 2024 to protect tribal areas, settlers, many of whom have lived in the region for decades, got a stay from the Gauhati High Court. Protesters argue the delay in eviction is an attack on tribal sovereignty, which has led to the current ethnic and communal tension.
Section 163 of the BNSS (formerly Section 144) is still in force, with a strict night curfew banning movement between 5:00 PM and 6:00 AM. While mobile internet is down, voice calls and fixed-line broadband are still working. The government has set a date for fresh negotiations with tribal groups, urging protesters to raise their grievances through legal channels rather than street violence.
Also Read / ‘Catastrophic’ explosion at Pennsylvania nursing home leaves 2 dead, 5 missing.
Leave a comment