Kalita community blocks NH in Assam’s Goalpara over land rights, demands changes to 2026 amendment bill

Traffic movement on a national highway in Assam’s Goalpara district was disrupted for around an hour on November 2 after members of the Kalita community staged a road blockade at Agia, protesting against provisions of the Assam Land and Revenue Amendment Bill, 2026.

The protest was organised by the Kalita Jatiya Sanmilan, which raised several demands concerning the community’s land rights and recognition under the proposed legislation.

The organisation demanded that the Kalita community be included in the list of indigenous ethnic communities under the Assam Land and Revenue Amendment Bill, 2026.

It also called for the withdrawal of the provision requiring three generations of documentary records of Kalita community members, with January 1, 2006, as the reference date for determining original inhabitants.

Another key demand was to ensure land rights for members of the Kalita community in tribal belts and blocks, Sixth Schedule areas and autonomous regions.

The blockade brought traffic to a standstill for approximately an hour, causing disruption to commuters and other vehicles passing through the area.