Thirty-eight police personnel were injured as protesters clashed with security forces and torched vehicles in West Karbi Anglong district; the Chief Minister said he was closely monitoring the situation and ordered deployment of additional forces.
Two people were killed in fresh violence that gripped the Kheroni area of West Karbi Anglong district on Tuesday (December 23, 2025). One of the victims was a person with a disability.
The district continued to witness unrest as mobs vandalized and torched shops, set vehicles on fire, and attacked police personnel using bombs, stones, and arrows in Kheroni, located about 190 km southeast of Guwahati. The violence persisted despite restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The clashes erupted on Monday (December 22) following protests by Karbi tribal groups demanding the eviction of what they described as “outsiders” from two categories of government land—village grazing reserves (VGRs) and professional grazing reserves (PGRs).
Confirming the “deeply painful” deaths, Himanta Biswa Sarma said he was closely monitoring the situation in the district, which, along with Karbi Anglong further east, is governed by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
“Additional security forces will be deployed in Kheroni on Wednesday to maintain peace. We are in constant touch with all concerned to restore normalcy and resolve issues through dialogue. The government will stand with all affected families and provide all necessary support,” the Chief Minister said.
According to officials, one of the deceased—a tribal protester—succumbed to injuries sustained during clashes with security forces. The other victim, a non-tribal person with a disability, was charred to death after being trapped inside a building that was set ablaze.
In view of the recurring violence, the Assam government temporarily suspended internet services in West Karbi Anglong and Karbi Anglong, both Sixth Schedule districts administered by the KAAC.
Violence in West Karbi Anglong: DGP on the ground, additional forces rushed
Harmeet Singh, Director General of Police of Assam, who has been camping in the affected areas since Monday evening (December 22), said that 38 police personnel were injured during clashes with protesters, who also set a few vehicles on fire.
“They attacked us from two sides. Thirty-eight police personnel, including an IPS officer, were injured. I was hit on the shoulder,” Mr. Singh told journalists at Kheroni.
Saying that protesters had gone back on their assurance of maintaining peace, Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh said shops were attacked and gas cylinders were burst again on Tuesday.
“They had promised yesterday that they would not resort to violence, but today they attacked shops and burst gas cylinders again. We were attacked with bombs, and one of our personnel was hit by an arrow. We are exercising restraint and are firing only tear gas and rubber bullets,” the DGP said.
Appealing for calm, he warned that strict legal action would be taken if the violence continued.
Kheroni and Donkamokam, located about 26 km away, where protesters had earlier torched the ancestral house of Tuliram Ronghang, chief of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and a Bharatiya Janata Party leader, appeared to have calmed down on Monday night (December 22) after visits by Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu and the DGP.
However, violence erupted again soon after the Minister left the area around noon on Tuesday (December 23).
Discussions assured amid fresh violence in Karbi Anglong
Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said he had persuaded the protesters to call off their fortnight-long hunger strike, while also explaining the legal hurdles involved in acting on their demand to evict alleged encroachers from village grazing reserves (VGRs) and professional grazing reserves (PGRs).
“We are holding discussions with all stakeholders,” Mr. Pegu said before leaving the Kheroni area.
Earlier, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the violence that erupted on Monday (December 22) was triggered by a rumour.
“The news spread that nine people who were on fast at Kheroni had been arrested by the police on Sunday night (December 21). In reality, they were taken to Guwahati because their health condition had deteriorated,” Mr. Sarma said.
The Chief Minister added that the State government was unable to act on the protesters’ demands as the matter was sub judice. He said the alleged settlers had filed multiple petitions in the Gauhati High Court seeking a stay on the eviction notices issued by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
