In February 2024, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) issued eviction notices to around 10,000 individuals accused of illegally settling on reserved grazing lands in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong. Protests started with the de-encroachment of the Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR), totaling 7,184.7 acres.
The Karbi community calls for the eviction of these settlers to protect their lands and identity, while Hindi-speaking communities, including Nonias from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, seek to de-reserve these lands to obtain legal titles.
On January 17, 2024, the Rachnatmak Nonia Sanyukta Sangh (RNSS), an RSS-backed organisation representing the Hindi-speaking community in Assam, submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking legal recognition for their settlements, sparking protests from Karbi students and civil society organisations. The unrest escalated on 15 February 2024, resulting in violence that injured 11 people and led to 17 arrests.
Chandra Kanta Terang, President of the Autonomous State Demand Committee, was quoted as saying, "The Karbis were beaten up in their own home while trying to protect our ancestral land from outsiders."
The KAAC, led by Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, plans to proceed with evictions, citing a 2011 Supreme Court order requiring the removal of illegal occupants from grazing lands. Despite claims of long-term residency from some affected individuals, the KAAC maintains that its eviction efforts will apply to all illegal encroachers, regardless of ethnicity, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
Affected residents, who claim to have lived on the land for decades, expressed shock at the eviction notices despite prior assurances from the BJP state government. They possess documents proving residency; some are even included in the National Register of Citizens.
While the Assam government approved de-reservation proposals for other districts in 2023, the demand for "de-reservation" appears problematic due to Karbi Anglong's designation as an autonomous area, granted under the Sixth Schedule in 1976.
In June 2024, signage marking the PGR lands was installed in West Karbi Anglong, indicating ongoing efforts to reclaim encroached areas. In August 2024, the protestors clashed with the police and the situation turned violent with the security forces firing in the air to disperse the crowd. The protestors, however, began to throw stones at the police personnel who lathi-charged the demonstrators. Thirty-five protestors and nine police personnel suffered injuries in the clash.
In January 2025, fresh protests erupted in Karbi Anglong, as the KSA and its allies demanded the eviction of unauthorised occupants from Kheroni PGR and VGR lands, indicating the persistent tensions in the region.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
1. Cessation of eviction drives 2. The Nonia community, via the RSS-backed Rachnatmak Nonia Sanyukta Sangh (RNSS), demands for legalization of their settlements.
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
21
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Currently under arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Indian Penal Code
Sections 341- Punishment for wrongful restraint,146-rioting,142-unlawful assembly120A- criminal conspiracy, 153A-Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, and 324- voluntary causing hurt,307-Attempt to murder,506-criminal intimidation,427-Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees and above
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area, Grazing, Religious/Sacred/Cultural value
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Gauhati High Court
Case Number
WP(C)/3524/2024, WP(C)/3718/2024, WP(C)/5117/2024
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Physical attack
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Displacement
Lathicharge/teargas/pellets
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
1. Members of the Hindi-speaking community allegedly assaulted some Karbi protesters resulting in injuries to 11 persons. 2. In August 2024, the protestors clashed with the police and the situation turned violent with the security forces firing in the air to disperse the crowd. The protestors, however, began to throw stones at the police personnel who baton-charged the demonstrators. Thirty-five protestors and nine police personnel suffered injuries in the clash.
Date of Violation
February 14, 2024
Location of Violation
Kheroni
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council; District Administration of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong; Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Assam; Assam Police
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Nonias, Adivasis, Karbis, Nagas, Rachnatmak Nonia Sanyukta Sangh, Karbi Students' Association, Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong, Karbi Students & Youth Council (KSYC)
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
21
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Currently under arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Indian Penal Code
Sections 341- Punishment for wrongful restraint,146-rioting,142-unlawful assembly120A- criminal conspiracy, 153A-Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, and 324- voluntary causing hurt,307-Attempt to murder,506-criminal intimidation,427-Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees and above
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Sarup is a researcher and doctoral student in Political Science at the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. His research interests lie in the area of ethnic and land conflicts, political ecology and development and urban spaces of Northeast India. He has a Masters’ degree in Development Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. He has previously done research/internships with NABARD, Oxford Microfinance Initiative (renamed Oxford Development Consultancy) and CSDS (Lokniti Programme).
