Himanta, Tuliram Ronghang respond to Karbi Anglong unrest, cite court orders and call for dialogue

Amid escalating tension in Karbi Anglong over eviction demands from the Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) land, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on December 22 said the situation could be resolved through dialogue, while making it clear that the state government cannot proceed with eviction in violation of an interim order of the Gauhati High Court.

Addressing the issue, the Chief Minister said that the demand for the removal of non-tribal residents from parts of Karbi Anglong has been a long-standing demand of local people. However, he pointed out that the Gauhati High Court has passed an interim judgment restraining eviction at present. “Currently, we cannot evict the people in question. We cannot go against the court order,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister said that despite the legal restraint, certain groups were insisting that eviction should take place immediately, which led to a hunger strike. He said when the government intervened in the matter and shifted the protesters to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for medical treatment, rumours began circulating that the protesters had been arrested.

Clarifying the situation, Sarma said there was no arrest and that those taken to GMCH were shifted only for treatment. “Those who were brought for treatment will go back home,” he said, adding that misinformation had further aggravated the situation.

Emphasising that confrontation was not a solution, the Chief Minister said the matter could be resolved through discussions within the constitutional framework. “We cannot go against the High Court, but we can sit together, hold dialogue and resolve the issue. I myself will sit with the protesters and try to resolve the matter,” Sarma said.

Referring to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, Sarma acknowledged that Ronghang also wants eviction to take place but reiterated that neither the KAAC nor the state government can act without a court order. “Without a High Court order, not only Tuliram Ronghang, even I cannot do anything,” the Chief Minister stated.

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Meanwhile, KAAC CEM Tuliram Ronghang on December 22 provided a detailed account of the council’s position and the developments leading to the unrest. He said that a decision had earlier been taken to evict people residing on PGR and VGR land following a Supreme Court order. However, the eviction process was halted after the Gauhati High Court issued an interim stay.

Ronghang said that after consultations with all political parties, the KAAC decided to proceed with eviction from PGR and VGR areas in Karbi Anglong. As part of the process, the services of 11 individuals were terminated, and eviction notices were issued asking residents to vacate the land within 15 days.

“After the eviction notices were issued, the affected people approached the Gauhati High Court. Since the matter is sub judice, the administration cannot proceed with eviction at this stage,” Ronghang said.

He clarified that although there is a Supreme Court direction regarding eviction from grazing reserve land, carrying out eviction in the present circumstances would amount to contempt of court. “The administration cannot carry out eviction when there is a court order. If we violate it, we will face contempt proceedings and punishment,” he added.

Ronghang further said that some residents living on PGR and VGR land launched a hunger strike demanding a written assurance from the council. According to him, a meeting was scheduled at 4 pm to discuss the issue, but the protestors failed to attend as some of them fell ill and were taken to Guwahati for medical treatment.

Rejecting allegations that the hunger strikers were arrested, the KAAC CEM said, “No one was arrested. Those who became unwell during the hunger strike were taken for medical treatment to Gauhati Medical College Hospital.”

He also alleged that while he had stepped out to resolve the matter through dialogue, the situation escalated in his absence. Ronghang claimed that a group of protesters reached his ancestral home in Dongkamukam, where villagers attempted to stop them. “Some people brought petrol and set fire to the house. Stones were also pelted,” he alleged.

The situation in Karbi Anglong remains tense, with both the state government and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council reiterating that any action must strictly adhere to judicial orders, while stressing that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving the dispute.