A volatile situation gripped Kheroni in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district on December 23, 2025, as violent clashes between pro-eviction agitators and local groups left two people dead and over 45 others injured.

The victims include a differently abled youth who was tragically charred to death in a building set ablaze and a tribal man who died during police action, as per reports.

Security forces, including Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, came under heavy attack with crude bombs, stones, and arrows. Despite prohibitory orders and the suspension of mobile internet services, fresh arson in the Kheroni market has forced the deployment of additional paramilitary forces to the region.

Chaos In Kheroni

The violence intensified on Tuesday afternoon in the Kheroni market area shortly after Education Minister Ranoj Pegu concluded talks with the protesters. DGP Harmeet Singh, who was personally monitoring the area, reported that 38 police personnel were injured in the coordinated attacks.

“They are hurling bombs and shooting arrows… a stone hit my shoulder too,” Singh stated, adding that the mobs used gas cylinders to incinerate commercial hubs.

While the state government has scheduled tripartite talks for January 2, the administration remains hampered by a Gauhati High Court stay on previous eviction notices, leaving both the indigenous community and the settlers in a state of dangerous legal and social limbo.

What Led to Karbi Anglong Violence?

The spark for this latest wave of violence was a fortnight-long hunger strike by nine Karbi youths demanding the eviction of non-tribal settlers from protected grazing reserves.

Tensions boiled over on Monday when the agitators were moved to a hospital for medical care, leading to false rumours that they had been arrested.

This misinformation triggered retaliatory attacks, including the torching of several houses and the ancestral home of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council chief.

The situation further deteriorated when local shopkeepers and eviction agitators clashed in Kheroni, resulting in heavy stone-pelting, arson, and the use of crude bombs against security forces.

Internet Suspended

To curb the rapid spread of lethal misinformation and inflammatory content on social media, the Assam government has suspended mobile internet and data services across the Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts.

Authorities observed that digital platforms were being used to mobilise mobs and coordinate attacks with arrows and bombs, posing a significant threat to public safety.

Alongside the internet blackout, a strict curfew and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita have been enforced.

These digital and physical restrictions aim to create a “cooling-off” period, preventing further escalation of communal friction while security forces restore order on the ground.

Core Problem

The roots of the current unrest lie in a persistent demand by indigenous Karbi organisations for the eviction of non-tribal settlers from Professional Grazing Reserves (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserves (VGR).

These lands are protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which safeguards tribal land rights. The situation reached a breaking point after a fortnight-long hunger strike by nine Karbi youths ended on Tuesday.

Misinformation regarding their “arrest” after being taken to a hospital for medical care triggered a wave of retaliatory arson. This frustration culminated in the torching of the ancestral home of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council chief Tuliram Ronghang and several shops owned by non-tribal residents.

CM Sarma Reacts

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken a firm stance, stating that the government will not tolerate violence or the disruption of public peace.

He condemned the attacks on security personnel and the destruction of property, confirming that additional paramilitary companies have been rushed to the sensitive border areas.

The Chief Minister emphasised that while the government is open to discussing legitimate land grievances, no group will be allowed to take the law into its own hands.

He further noted that the state is monitoring the situation closely and has directed the Director General of Police to remain on-site to oversee the containment of the unrest.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

The tragic loss of life and widespread destruction in West Karbi Anglong is a sobering reminder of how historical land grievances can be weaponised by misinformation.

When the tip of an arrow or a crude bomb replaces dialogue, the entire community loses its sense of safety and belonging. We believe that while the protection of indigenous land rights is a constitutional necessity, it must be pursued through legal and peaceful channels rather than communal violence.

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