Assam Government Postpones Talks with Karbi Society Amid Ongoing Tensions

Postponement of Talks

Guwahati, Jan 17: The Assam government has delayed the second round of discussions with the Karbi community, originally set to address recent inter-community conflicts in West Karbi Anglong district, due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the region.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on a social media platform that the meeting with the Karbi Samaj has been postponed in light of the Prime Minister's significant visit. He reassured the Karbi community of the government's dedication to resolving their concerns, stating, “We will reschedule the talks promptly and are committed to addressing all issues through respectful dialogue and understanding.”

Background of Tensions

Ongoing tensions in the district have arisen between the Karbi and non-Assamese groups, primarily due to accusations of encroachment on Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands by Hindi-speaking settlers.

A tripartite meeting that included the state government, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), and representatives of the protesters took place on December 26 to discuss the removal of these alleged encroachments. However, the follow-up discussions planned for Saturday have now been postponed.

After the December meeting, Sarma indicated that the government would seek an expedited ruling from the Gauhati High Court regarding its previous stay on eviction actions in grazing lands across West Karbi Anglong and Karbi Anglong districts. He also mentioned that the KAAC, which had not submitted its affidavit in the case for two years, would do so by January 5, while members of the Karbi community would file a separate petition.

Recent Protests and Violence

Last month, Karbi activists engaged in a 15-day hunger strike, demanding the removal of alleged illegal settlers, many of whom are believed to have migrated from Bihar.

The situation escalated into violence on December 22 when police intervened to remove three protesters from the site, a decision later justified by the administration for medical reasons. This incident resulted in one fatality due to police gunfire and another individual being burned alive in his home in the Kheroni area, with over 180 people injured, including 173 security personnel.

In response to the unrest, the Army was deployed to the area and conducted flag marches in the affected regions of West Karbi Anglong district.