Guwahati: An uneasy calm prevailed in violence-affected areas of West Karbi Anglong district in Assam on December 25, with authorities reporting no fresh incidents amid continued heavy security deployment.
Officials said personnel from the Assam Police, Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Indian Army maintained intensified patrolling and round-the-clock vigil in all sensitive pockets. A senior official said security forces were closely monitoring vulnerable locations to prevent any flare-up.
The violence erupted against the backdrop of simmering tensions between Karbi groups and Hindi-speaking residents over alleged encroachment on Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands in the tribal belt. The situation turned volatile earlier this week in the Kheroni area, which has a mixed population of Karbi, Bihari, Bengali and Nepali communities.
Two persons lost their lives during the unrest. Officials said mobs set ablaze the house-cum-shop of specially abled youth Suresh Dey, from where authorities recovered his body, while police firing killed Athik Timung of the Karbi community. Authorities added that families performed the last rites of both victims peacefully on Wednesday night in accordance with their respective customs.
Prohibitory orders and suspension of mobile data services continue to remain in force, even as signs of gradual normalcy emerge. A district administration official said the situation was under constant review and any relaxation of restrictions would depend on ground assessments.
The clashes followed a 15-day hunger strike by Karbi agitators seeking eviction of alleged illegal settlers from grazing reserve lands in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts. Tensions escalated after police removed three protesters from the agitation site in the early hours of Monday for medical reasons, according to the administration.
More than 70 people, including over 60 police personnel, sustained injuries during the violence. An Army column, comprising around 60 to 80 personnel, was deployed and conducted flag marches to deter further disturbances.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday that the government could not carry out the immediate eviction of settlers because the Gauhati High Court has issued a stay order.