Assam: Locals expose hill cutting, sand mining; demand action against forest ranger

Residents of West Karbi Anglong have levelled serious allegations against Harsing Kramsa, Ranger of Ouguri Forest Range under Hamren Forest Division, accusing him of enabling illegal hill cutting and sand mining at Khursing Hill (Mandir). 

Kramsa is the brother of Sarthe Kramsa, Chairperson of the Forest Board in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

According to the Tharakunchi Land Protection Committee and Village Development Committee, Kramsa has been colluding with stone mafias from Guwahati to extract stone and gravel illegally. 

The groups allege that roads have been carved into the hill to facilitate the mining, resulting in large-scale deforestation and environmental damage.

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This isn’t the first time Kramsa has faced such accusations. 

According to locals, during his previous posting at Kheroni’s Southern Forest Range, he was similarly linked to illegal sand extraction. Locals allege hundreds of trucks extracted sand daily under his watch.

The Tharakunchi committees have appealed to KAAC Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang and local EM D. Uphing Maslai to intervene. They are demanding an immediate halt to all destructive activities and strict action against the ranger.

In response, CEM Ronghang has ordered an immediate stop to all illegal operations and suspended the movement of trucks in the area. Locals are continuing to press for a full investigation and accountability for the destruction of the ecologically sensitive Khursing Hill.