Assam restores mobile internet in Karbi Anglong districts after five days of unrest

Guwahati: After almost five days, mobile internet services in violence-hit Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts of Assam were restored on Sunday.

It was restored following an improvement in the law and order situation.

An order issued by Ajay Tewari, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political Department, stated that the suspension of mobile internet services was revoked from 8 am on Sunday.


All mobile service providers operating in the two districts were directed to resume services.

The notification stated, “whereas, the law and order situation in the districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong has since improved and normalised, and it appears that there is no further apprehension of breach of public peace and tranquillity in the said districts for the time being.”

The violence in Kheroni in Assam on December 22 and 23 led to injuries to 173 personnel of the Assam Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Two people have died in the violence.

Several houses were torched, and there is tension in the area following clashes between police and protesters on Monday.

In the Kheroni area, there was vandalism as angry protesters went on a rampage on Tuesday. There was vandalism and looting in the market area. Several people, including police personnel, were injured.

The incident took place at Dongkamokam in West Karbi Anglong, where people have been agitating for the last few days demanding eviction against illegal encroachment on protected government lands.

The agitators have also started an indefinite hunger strike on December 16, demanding that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) act against the illegal encroachment immediately.

On Friday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will immediately cancel the licences of all commercial establishments operating on Professional Grazing Reserved (PGR) land and Village Grazing Reserved (VGR) land.

He chaired a meeting with representatives of various organisations representing the Karbi community, members of Karbi civil society, and functionaries of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister held detailed discussions with the representatives on a range of issues, including the recent incident that occurred in the Kheroni area of West Karbi Anglong district. In the meeting, consensus was reached on several matters, and a number of important decisions were taken.

The Chief Minister stated that in connection with the issue of VGR and PGR land, which is presently under consideration before a Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will file an affidavit within the first week of January. Simultaneously, Karbi civil society will also present its views as a party to the case. Considering the importance of the matter, the state government will request the court for an expeditious hearing and early verdict, following which appropriate action will be taken by the government in accordance with the court’s decision.

The Chief Minister further informed that all government offices presently located on VGR–PGR land in Kheroni will be shifted to alternative locations at the earliest. He stated that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will soon undertake fencing of approximately eight thousand bighas of VGR–PGR land in Kheroni and carry out afforestation in the area so as to prevent any future encroachment.

He said that all government office land in Karbi Anglong district that has been encroached upon by individuals for residential purposes will be cleared of encroachments by the Autonomous Council.

He further stated that several laws enacted by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council are currently under consideration by the state government and assured that steps will be taken to accord approval to these laws at the earliest.