The West Karbi Anglong district of the Indian state of Assam has been witnessed a recent wave of violence as an aftermath of many weeks of demonstrations over alleged land encroachment.
While things have gradually cooled down, this event marks the brewing resentment of the people of one of the districts of Assam under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution against the government, as far as issues of governance are concerned. There was also a protest that developed over several weeks. However, this crisis did not arise from nowhere.
Over two weeks ago, before the crisis broke out, an indefinite hunger strike was held by members belonging to the indigenous communities living in West Karbi Anglong, involving people from the Karbi tribe as well as other communities at Phelangpi, with the objective of demanding the withdrawal of the settlers who occupied lands within the Village Grazing Reserve and Professional Grazing Reserve.
These grazing reserves are guaranteed by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, according to which special administrative safeguards are provided for the tribal areas. The demonstrators alleged that despite various demands, the government had not made significant efforts to restrict the entry that might pose a threat to the way of life of people living in that area.
However, things escalated dramatically in the early hours of December 22, with efforts by the government to remove the hungry strikers from the Phelangpi-Kheroni area reaching dramatic proportions. Although this was a measure to enable the government to maintain law and order among the strikers, it is apparent that this function was to extinguish the stir among them.
Thousands of people, including women, senior citizens, students, and youth, gathered on the roads and staged sit-ins at the major Kheroni Bridge, which is locally known as “Thong Nokbe.” The said bridge is an essential transport route within the district and the closing down of which has caused all transport to come to a standstill.The protesters demanded the arrangement of a dialogue session with the authorities of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), particularly its Chief Executive Member, Dr. Tuliram Ronghang.
The KAAC was also responsible for not doing anything regarding the issue of land encroachment. Violence and dissemination of unrest, acts which are intended.As the day progressed, the protest turned violent. Many people were facing the security forces in different parts of the country, and the police had to resort to blank firing and aerial firing to handle the protesters.
There were confirmed reports that at least three protesters were injured in the police action. In reaction to this, some of the participants in the assembly resorted to burning and throwing stones as a means of revenge. Some of the major incidents that happened in this riot are the ancestral house of Dr. Tuliram Ronghang, which is situated in Donkamokam and was burned down by the angry mob. There were also shops, residences, and an education bus that were damaged or burned down.
This violence was an escalation of what had been a peaceful protest. It also raised concerns of law and order in the district. Administration Response and given the context of the escalating situation, the district administration invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in West Karbi Anglong.
“The prohibitory order prohibits assembly of five persons or more, rallies, marches, and spread of inflammatory communication.” Thus, the restriction of movement during nocturnal hours was also imposed. There were more police and security personnel positioned in areas that may be considered sensitive and check points set up to regulate movements. The government appealed to the public to support the police and avoid spreading information that may heighten tensions.
The situation stabilises, but problems Developed, by Tuesday, there were reports of the absence of new incidents pertaining to violence. Although, the region was on high alert, considering the involvement of large security agencies, along with calls for people to remain calm.
The law enforcers indicated the involvement of efforts to reach out to community leaders.The situation prevailing in West Karbi Anglong has once again highlighted the added worry of the rights over the land and the identity of the tribes in the Sixth Schedule states. The tribes believe that the delay in handling the matter regarding the encroachment has affected their constitutional safeguard that was supposed to safeguard their land and their mode of living. Although the situation is under control, yet the problem is yet to be resolved, and the future looks ominous.
