In Assam, the indigenous Tai-Ahom communities are locked in a heartfelt struggle to protect their ancient monuments and sacred sites, places that whisper tales of a dynasty that ruled for 600 years.
These sites—palaces, temples, and burial mounds—provide cultural identity to the Tai-Ahoms numbering around 4.6 million approximately. But today, these historical structures spread across Jorhat, Sivasagar and Tinsukia are under siege from neglect, illegal encroachments, and the grinding wheels of mining activities.
In 2023, Assam’s Chief Minister visited the land of the last Raj Kareng of the Ahom Empire in Jorhat and saw that it had dwindled from 400 bighas to a measly 12 bighas due to encroachments. He then promised to save what’s left and asked for a plan, according to news reports. However, amid rumours that the government was trying to implement another project of the health department instead of the Raj Kareng at the same place, the All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU) and the Rajkareng and Historical Monuments Rescue Committee staged a protest against the Assam government in November 2024. They demanded that the CM's promised be fulfilled.
Since 2016, the Tai-Ahom communities, backed by groups like the All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU) and the Jorhat Zila Ahom Sabha, on several occasions have spoken up against incidents of defiling these heritage sites, calling for the protection of Ahom Dynasty monuments. By 2019, people started an online Change.org petition, pleading for someone—anyone—to step up and save these monuments from ruin.
In March 2023, the Gauhati High Court took suo moto cognisance of a report appearing in the Assamese newspaper, namely, 'Niyomiya Barta', pertaining to the illegal mining going on in the historic Tipam field as well as the incidents of encroachment of the Tipam hill area, and called for reports from concerned authorities.
On 4 February 2025, thousands from Tai-Ahom communities marched through Sivasagar, demanding the “scientific preservation and beautification of the Ahom-era monuments” like Shiva Doul, Vishnu Doul, Devi Doul and many more.
During the protest, ATASU Central President Basanta Gogoi emphasized that historical monuments, symbols of Ahom valor and Assamese pride, are facing encroachment threats. He highlighted the risk to structures like the high Shiva Doul and Vishnu Doul due to declining water levels in the Jamuna Canal linked to encroachments. Gogoi accused both outsiders and some Assamese people, including those operating a Tai Sanskriti Bikash Kendra on encroached land, of illegal occupation. He criticized corrupt officials in the Archaeological Departments for enabling these actions and demanded government action within a month, warning of an eviction drive if no response is seen.
On 5 February 2025, the Gauhati High Court ordered the state to survey and protect these sites within six months. While it’s a start, the Tai-Ahom communities are determined to protest until their demands are met.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for promised land
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Preservation of Ancient and Sacred sites, removal of encroachments, prevention of illegal activities, land allotment for memorials, ST status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
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
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
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.
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
No
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:
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Gauhati High Court
Case Number
PIL (Suo Moto) No.3 of 2018
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Other harassment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Government of Assam, Directorate of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Coal India Limited (involved indirectly due to mining activities near historical sites)
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
No specific corporate entities are mentioned as directly involved in the conflict, though private actors may be implicated in encroachments, as alleged in protests.
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Tai-Ahom community, All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU), Jorhat Zila Ahom Sabha, Historical Last Capital Rajkareng and Historical Heritage Recovery Committee, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), TAYPA, Jatiya Sangrami Sena, Sangrami Yuva Chatra Parishad, Sangrami Sena
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
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
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?
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